North Korea Moves Closer to Missile Launch

North Korea continues to apparently move forward with plans for a test missile launch, moving two more missile launchers to its east coast since April 16, South Korea's Yonhap News reports. They are thought to be for shorter-range Scud missiles. South Korean military officials think North Korea might be looking to do the launch, or present some other show of force, on the Thursday anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army.

Earlier this month, the North moved two mid-range missile launchers and seven mobile launchers, Reuters notes. And yesterday, Reuters reports, Pyongyang reaffirmed its determination not to give up its nuclear weapons, a US condition for talks, but did say it would consider discussing disarmament if a list of demands (like the lifting of UN sanctions) were met. "There may be talks between the DPRK and the US for disarmament but no talks on denuclearization," said the commentary in a state-run newspaper. (More North Korea stories.)