N Korea 'close to missile launch'

Russian officials have said North Korea is close to test-launching another ballistic missile, Russian media say. Itar-Tass news agency quoted a military official saying he had information on the type of rocket but no launch date. In recent weeks, North Korea has fired a long-range and several short-range missiles, and tested a nuclear device. The Russian warning comes as diplomats at the UN said the Security Council was close to agreement on new sanctions against North Korea over the tests.Fears of a new missile launch by North Korea have been stoked by warnings earlier this week to shipping to stay away from the waters off its east coast for the next three weeks.

Launch imminent?
Itar-Tass quoted a source in the Russian foreign ministry as saying: "Judging by everything, a launch will take place. There are signs that preparations for this are underway." US and South Korean officials have also said there are signs that the North may be preparing to test-fire a long-range missile. The US has said it has ruled out military action against the North in favour of international diplomatic efforts. US President Barack Obama's special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, told the Korea Society in New York that the US was not seeking to topple the North Korean government. "North Korea's recent actions to develop a nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile capacity require that we expand our consideration of new responses," Mr Bosworth said."However, the North Korean claim to be responding to a 'threat' or a 'hostile policy' by the United States is simply groundless."Quite to the contrary, we have no intention to invade North Korea or change its regime through force, and this has been made clear to the DPRK repeatedly," he added, using the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.Mr Bosworth supported the resumption of the six-party talks with the North aimed at ending its nuclear programme. The parties include Russia, China, Japan, the US and both Koreas.North Korea said on Tuesday that it would use nuclear weapons in a "merciless offensive" if provoked.South Korea has informed the US of up to 20 North Korean bank accounts, in China and Switzerland, suspected of being involved in counterfeiting, money laundering and other illegal transactions, South Korea's Chosun Ilbo newspaper said.The US is expected to pursue financial sanctions against the North alongside international sanctions.The US wants tougher inspections of ships carrying cargo to and from North Korea and wants to deny North Korea access to international banking services."We're making progress but we are not done yet," said Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the UN, on Tuesday."I'm hopeful that this will be concluded soon."

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