North Korea moves missile to launch site and bans ships

NORTH Korea has moved its most advanced long-range missile to a new launch site and has banned ships from the waters off its west coast until the end of July, it was reported today.

The missile, which arrived at the Dongchang-ni launch site on the north-west coast, is believed to be a version of the Taepodong-2 rocket that the North fired on April 5, saying it was a satellite launch, the South Korean Dong-a Ilbo newspaper said.

The North could fire the missile as early as June 16 when South Korean president Lee Myung-bak and US president Barack Obama hold a summit in Washington, the paper said, citing unidentified officials in Washington and Seoul.

The North has also designated a large area off its west coast as a "no-sail" zone through the end of next month. Seoul's defence ministry said it did not comment on intelligence matters.

But late last week, South Korean officials said US satellites detected apparent preparations to transport a missile for a test launch.

A new missile launch would significantly increase the tensions running high after the North's April rocket launch and its second-ever nuclear test last week.