WASHINGTON (AP) - US officials say North Korea has taken a step back from its recent escalation of regional tensions by removing from their launch site a set of medium-range ballistic missiles that had been readied for possible test firing.

The two US officials who confirmed the North Korean move on Tuesday spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to publicly discuss a matter involving sensitive US intelligence.

Two Musudan missiles at a site in eastern North Korea had been in what American officials described as launch-ready status for some weeks. It's not clear why they removed the missiles in recent days, but Pentagon press secretary George Little said on Monday that US officials have seen a "provocation pause" by North Korea.

Mr Little did not comment on the missiles' status.