South Korea sees imminent prospect of North ICBM test: Newspaper

SEOUL (REUTERS) - South Korea's presidential office believes North Korea could test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as soon as Monday (March 14), local media reported, citing an unnamed source.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have been rising amid growing signs that Pyongyang could soon follow through on its threats to restart testing ICBMs, breaking a self-imposed 2017 moratorium.

Outgoing President Moon Jae-in's office has told President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol that a test launch was imminent and that it would not be a surprise if it took place on Monday, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported.

Yonhap news agency said separately that both South Korea and the United States had detected signs of an upcoming test.

The comment was made as Mr Moon's national security advisor, Mr Suh Hoon, briefed Mr Yoon on Saturday about various foreign policy and security issues, the report said, citing an unnamed official at the president-elect's office.

"It is so imminent that it would be no surprise if they fire it on Monday," the report quoted Mr Suh as saying. "We are taking the situation seriously."

A spokesman for Mr Moon's office said Mr Suh had briefed Mr Yoon on North Korea's recent movements, including recent missile launches, and the Ukraine crisis, among other issues, but declined to comment on the Chosun Ilbo report.

Yoon spokesman Kim Eun-hye told Reuters there could be various closed-door briefings for the president-elect but did not confirm details on security issues.

At a meeting with senior aides, Mr Moon called for Pyongyang to stop escalating tensions and seek diplomacy, and vowed to keep up a solid security posture.  

Seoul’s Unification Ministry handling inter-Korean affairs also urged the North to immediately halt actions that "run counter to peace and stability" on the peninsula. 

On Friday, the United States and South Korea said in a rare joint announcement that the North had used its largest-ever ICBM in two recent launches, in the guise of satellite launch preparations.

The missile system, known as the Hwasong-17, was unveiled at a military parade in Pyongyang in 2020 and reappeared at a defence exhibition in October 2021.

The Dong-A Ilbo newspaper also reported on Monday, citing unnamed government sources, that a transporter-erector-launcher used to fire road-mobile missiles such as the Hwasong-17 had been spotted around the Pyongyang airport, where the two recent tests were held.

Mr Yoon, who was elected president last week, had signalled a tougher line against Pyongyang. While staying open to restarting stalled denuclearisation talks, he has said pre-emptive strikes might be needed to counter an imminent North Korean missile attack, and vowed to buy additional US Thaad missile interceptors.

Before the election, Mr Yoon also warned of "even stronger pressure from the international community if North Korea fires an ICBM under colour of a satellite launch."

He declined to make additional comment on Sunday.