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A North Korean media report claiming to have acquired ICBM reentry technology (left) and an image of after a missile launch. (Yonhap News)

The South Korean government is paying close attention to the possibility of an imminent North Korean mobile mid-range or intercontinental ballistic missile launch after CNN reported evidence of preparations.

“Our understanding is that the report was not too far off,” said a senior Ministry of National Defense official on Apr. 13.

“When a warhead atmospheric re-entry simulation was conducted on Mar. 15, [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-un said [North Korea] would attempt a test nuclear warhead explosion and launch of a ballistic rocket capable of carrying a nuclear warhead,” the official added. “It is possible it will conduct a launch along those lines, whether it’s a Musudan, a KN-08, or a KN-14.”

Washington also reportedly views the possibility as high. While it is leaving open the possibility of either a Musudan or intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch, sources reported that it is leaning more toward the former for now.

The Musudan has a reported range of 3,000 to 4,000 km, which would place Guam and the Aleutian Islands within its strike zone. In contrast, the KN-08 and KN-14 are believed to be capable of striking at the mainland US; Washington holds that their successful integration could be a “game changer.”

North Korea has yet to conduct any test launches of the Musudan, KN-08, or KN-14. Intelligence officials in South Korea and the US have previously dismissed the possibility of the North having the necessary atmospheric re-entry technology.

With the North having recently publicized experiments with solid fuel and new engines, the US sees it as likely to attempt to use them in an actual launch. Given past cases where North Korea prepared for missile launches that were ultimately not carried out, however, Washington is also not ruling out the possibility of the apparent preparations being a disruption tactic.

“There’s a chance [a ballistic missile] could be launched around the Day of the Sun holiday [on Apr. 15], but probably not on that exact date,” said a source familiar with the North Korea situation.

“Its significance is as a way of showing off its firepower at home and approach while pressuring the US [to sign a peace agreement],” the source added.

By Park Byong-su, senior staff writer and Yi Yong-in, Washington correspondent

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]