US detects North Korean missile two hours before launch

US intelligence detected North Korea's Hwasong-15 missile from the stage of construction at the launch site until it was fired.

North Korea's missile launch on the morning of November 29. Photo: Reuters

US military intelligence confirmed that it detected North Korea's missile launch preparations about 72 hours before Pyongyang fired.DiplomatDecember 6 news.

The most reliable sign of a North Korean missile test, experts say, is the construction of an observation post for leader Kim Jong-un at previously used launch sites.

However, in 2017, Pyongyang expanded the test site to new launch sites, near Sunan Airport, Pukchang Airport or Mupyong-ni. This missile launch site is located in Pyongsong Province and has not been used before.

A US government source revealed that in addition to predicting North Korea's missile launch three days in advance, US intelligence also observed site preparation activities three hours in advance and saw Pyongyang erecting the missile on the launch pad two hours before the launch.

North Korea launched a Hwasong-15 missile at 3:17 a.m. on November 29, flying 960 km and reaching an altitude of 4,500 km before landing in Japan's exclusive economic zone. Previous missile tests have typically taken place in the morning. Information about the time and location could indicate that Pyongyang is trying to test weapons anywhere, at any time. It also makes the launch more unpredictable and difficult for other countries to stop.

During North Korea's Hwasong-14 missile test in early July, the Pentagon also confirmed that the US RC-135S reconnaissance aircraft stationed at Yokota base, Japan, detected the missile right from the fueling stage and closely monitored the entire launch process.

However, the Pentagon decided not to shoot it down because it assessed the missile did not pose a threat to the US or its allies.

According to VNE