N. Korea Fires 2 Short- Range Missiles: Reports

And piles of dirt at the Punggye-ri site indicate it could happen soon

(NEWSER) - North Korea looks to be preparing a third nuclear test, the AP reports: New photos show work on an underground tunnel—at the site of two earlier such tests—is nearly finished, say South Korean intelligence officials. "North Korea is covertly preparing for a third nuclear test, which would be another grave provocation," says the intelligence report, noting that dirt piled at the tunnel's opening indicates there's a "high possibility" Pyongyang could launch the test—soon. That's because plugging tunnels with dirt was the final step taken during its two previous nuclear tests at the Punggye-ri site, in 2006 and 2009. More»

(NEWSER) - So much for international outrage. North Korea fired off yet another short-range missile tonight, reports South Korea's Yonhap news agency. The missile is the third launched by Pyongyang since its nuclear test yesterday. Analysts suspect the North is engaging in a bit of saber-rattling, possibly to keep US and South Korean reconnaissance planes from nosing around for information about the nuke test. More missiles are expected. More»

Neighbors believe country is readying test of long-range missile

(NEWSER) - North Korea’s announcement today that it is preparing to launch an "experimental communications satellite" on one of its rockets has raised fears that a long-range missile test is imminent, CNN reports. US and South Korean officials, citing intelligence reports, believe that the country is preparing to launch a missile with an intended range of 4,200 miles and are closely monitoring developments. More»

And regime's nuke ready for testing, maybe tomorrow

(NEWSER) - Thirty North Korean officials who took part in talks with South Korea were either executed or died in "staged traffic accidents" for failing to improve relations, according to Amnesty International. The human rights group's annual report found that another 200 were arrested in January as the regime transferred power from Kim Jong-il to his son, Kim Jong-un. Pyongyang typically rounds up officials who fail to satisfy the regime, even when they're only carrying out orders, the Telegraph reports. More»

And they have 10K experts working on such rockets

(NEWSER) - North Korea is working on a rocket so big that it makes the long-range Taepodong-2 missile it's preparing to test-launch look modest, South Korean government sources tell the Chosun Ilbo . Based on satellite images, they've determined that the North is working on a missile with a booster so large that it could fire more than 6,200 miles, meaning it would be capable of reaching the continental US. More»