North Korea is preparing to launch a long-range missile, a Japanese newspaper reported Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, the US government has informed its Japanese and South Korean counterparts about the move, after US satellites picked up signs that North Korea was moving missile parts from its military factory in Pyongyang to a launch pad in Tongchang-ri in the country's far northwest.

Images of the shipment were similar to one used in the April launch.

In April North Korea carried out a rocket launch 20 days after parts of the rocket had been delivered to the same launch pad. Then the launch failed.

North Korea has not announced any plans to launch a rocket.

Source: Voice of Russia