Two US officials told CNN that if the government proceeds with the launch, called Musudan missile could potentially hit Guam and perhaps Shemya island in the outer limits of the Aleutian chain of Alaska.
But officials say firmly that there are other possible scenarios: North Korea could also launch its mobile ballistic missiles, KN- 08 or KN -14 that could have a range of longer range and could hit the northwest Pacific coast of the United United. It is believed that the missile Kn -14 is more accurate than the KN- 08 and it is believed that the regime first exhibited at a military parade in 2015, say official version .
But the United States also warned that the regime might decide to do nothing yet. North Korea is well aware that US spy satellites maintain constant surveillance and any movement can be part of an effort to convince the United States that Pyongyang is about to take action.
If North Korea proceeds would be the first time that country to launch a long-range ballistic missile from the mobile launcher and the first time any of these missiles have flown .
It is unclear whether the missiles work and how accurate are the systems can be a guide , but estimates range missiles can grow these concerns . Shemya Island , for example, has early warning radars that monitor space and missile activities .
If there is a release, it is unclear whether the missiles could carry some kind of simulated warhead .
But if the North were to launch a mobile missile for the first time with such scope , it would be a significant military breakthrough for North Korea and a change in the calculation for the United States military officials say .
In a conflict mobile launchers can fire quickly and move to a new position making it very difficult to track them down satellites or spy planes . This also would be a violation of U.N. resolutions prohibiting North Korea ballistic missile testing
North Korea has already successfully launched a ballistic missile of three stages twice from a stationary platform launch, both times carrying a satellite on the front rudimentary missile into orbit . As the launch was made from a planned site , satellites were able to see for several days prior preparations.
The rocket launch was made as part of a series of provocative actions of North Korea, including a nuclear test that prompted international condemnation and concern