North Korea confirmed that it is poised to launch a missile, though the North said it was about to orbit a satellite, rather than to test an intercontinental ballistic missile, The New York Times reported.
Pyongyang is moving ahead with the launch in defiance of warnings from South Korea and the United States that the flight would violate international agreements.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has assailed plans for the launch. (Please see Space & Missile Defense Report, Monday, Feb. 23, 2009.)
North Korea has said it has a right to a space program.
But Western military analysts suspect the lifter may actually be a Taepo Dong-2 long-range missile.
In the event of a launch, U.S. missile defense forces will be focused intently on the liftoff. A senior U.S. military officer declined to say whether an attempt will be made to shoot down the lifter as it rises from the launch pad. (Please see story in this issue.)