South Korea has no comment on North missile report

U.S. broadcaster CNN quoted analysts as saying North Korea was near completion of a missile test site about 30 miles (50 km) from its border with China that could be used to test its Taepodong-2 long-range missile.

South Korean defence and unification ministry officials declined to comment on the report at separate news briefings.

Joseph Bermudez, a senior analyst with Jane’’s Information Group, told CNN the launch site is larger, more costly and more sophisticated than a previous site the North has used before to launch missiles.

“This is a national programme in their desire to expand both their space launch and ballistic missile launch programmes,” he said in comments posted on CNN’’s website.

North Korea last launched its Taepodong-2, a multi-stage missile under development with a possible range of 3,500 km to 4,300 km, in July 2006. The missile fizzled and was destroyed a few seconds after its launch.

Bermudez, who worked with satellite imagery experts on the analysis, said it would take another one to two years to finish the facility, CNN said.

North Korea has more than 800 ballistic missiles capable of hitting all of South Korea and most parts of Japan, experts have said. (Reuters)