North Korea moving intercontinental ballistic missile to west coast, report South Korean media

Missile 'spotted moving at night to avoid surveilance'

North Korea has been observed moving what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) towards its west coast, South Korean media reported, citing an unidentified intelligence source.

The Asia Business Daily said the rocket started moving on Monday, a day after North Korea's sixth nuclear test, and was spotted moving at night to avoid surveillance.

North Korea has launch facilities for its missile programme on its west coast.

South Korea's defence ministry said they were unable to confirm the contents of the report.

Yesterday, the defence ministry said in parliament the North was considered to be ready to launch more missiles, including ICBMs, at any time.

"We have continued to see signs of possibly more ballistic missile launches. We also forecast North Korea could fire an intercontinental ballistic missile," said Chang Kyung-soo, a defence ministry official.

In July, North Korea tested two ICBMs that could fly about 10,000km (6,200 miles), putting many parts of the US mainland within range and prompting a new round of international sanctions against Pyongyang.

The US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was "begging for war" and urged the 15-member UN Security Council to impose the "strongest possible" sanctions to deter him and shut down his trading partners.

US President Donald Trump held calls with foreign leaders on Monday, including South Korean President Moon Jae-in and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the White House declared "all options to address the North Korean threat are on the table".

South Korea is talking to Washington about deploying aircraft carriers and strategic bombers to the Korean peninsula, and has been ramping up its own defences in the meantime.

Me Trump and Mr Moon agreed to scrap a warhead weight limit on South Korea's missiles, South Korea's presidential office said, enabling it to strike the North with greater force in the event of a military conflict. The White House said Mr Trump gave "in-principle approval" to the move.

"We believe the unlimited warhead payload will be useful in responding to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said.