North Korea Likely To Launch Long-Range Missile Next Month

North Korea is likely to launch long range missile next month following the upgrade of missile launch facility.

"There is a possibility that the North could fire a missile to commemorate the anniversary of founding workers party on October 10 as it is currently finishing construction at its rocket launch facility in Dongchang-ri on its west coast border," the South Korean defense ministry said in a report to the National Assembly.

A new 67-meter-tall gantry has been spotted on the site in satellite imagery, which many specialists have speculated that it was being developed for long range missile launch. It was also noticed that the missile’s size was twice that of the 30 meter Unha-3 that was launched into orbit before three years.

The South does not exclude the possibility of North Korea's long-range missile launch, given the unpredictability of the North's regime, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency Thursday.

"The government is closely watching related situations," Yun said. "Seoul plans to drum up global support to encourage the North to sincerely implement the inter-Korean deal and to prevent it from making an additional provocation." Yun added.