Over the past week, there have been reports about a possible rocket launch by the DPRK. Some South Korean media have speculated it could be launched on Thursday, the same day when South Korea is set to launch its Naro rocket.

Images released by satellite operator DigitalGlobe claim to show a marked increase in activity at a DPRK rocket launch site. The company says that the signs point to a possible long-range ballistic missile test by DPRK in the next three weeks.

The images were released days after a Japanese newspaper reported that U.S. intelligence analysts had detected moves that were seen as preparation by the DPRK for a long-range missile launch as early as this month. But the DPRK insists that it is only launching a rocket instead of a missile.