The Yonhap news agency says North Korea has set upa launch pad equipped to fire long-range ballisticmissiles larger than those used in earlier tests. Yonhapsaid the launch pad is close to North Korea’s borderwith China. The structure was said to be 50-meters tall. But it reportedly has been extended to a height of 67-meters.

In this Dec. 12, 2012 file image made from video, North Korea's Unha-3 rocket lifts off from the Sohae launching station in Tongchang-ri, North Korea.

The launch pad is now said to have the ability to launcha rocket double the size of the 30-meter tall Unha-3rocket. North Korea used an Unha-3 rocket to send asatellite into space in December 2012. However, UnitedStates officials said the satellite went out of controlwhile in Earth orbit.

Observers said the launch pad appeared to be a steptoward development of an intercontinental-rangemissile -- one designed to hit a distant target.

Yonhap said a government official in Seoul provided theinformation used in its report. The South Korean news agency said the launchpad could be used to fire a long-range missile sometime around October 10th. That is the day when North Korea will mark the 70th anniversary of itsCommunist Party.

Earlier this week, North Korea said it has no interest in negotiations that wouldresult in the government giving up its nuclear program.

A foreign ministry statement said it was “illogical” to compare Iran’s nucleardeal with world powers to the situation in North Korea. The statement went on to say North Korea is “always subjected to provocative U.S. militaryhostilities, including massive joint military exercises and a grave nuclearthreat.”

The Iranian nuclear agreement will limit the country’s nuclear activities inexchange for an end to economic restrictions on Iran. After the agreementwas announced, U.S. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman called onNorth Korea to learn from the deal.

“The one thing I will say, and I would say to the North Koreans is that thisagreement demonstrates that one can come out of isolation, … and do so in a peaceful way,” she said. “It perhaps might give North Korea secondthoughts about the very dangerous path that is currently pursuing.”

North Koreasaid on Tuesday that it has no interest in any communications todiscuss suspending or disarming its nuclear program. The North instead saidthat it is a “nuclear weapons state.”

I’m Jim Tedder.

This report was based on material from the Yonhap news agency and VOA’sNews Division. George Grow adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Dowas the editor.

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Words in This Story

pad– n. an area use for rocket launches or helicopter take-offs

long-range– adj. able to travel great distances

ballistic missile - n. a weapon capable of travelling through the sky over adistance to hit targets

intercontinental- adj. having the ability to travel between continents

illogical– adj. lacking clear, sound reasoning

provocative- adj. causing anger or another strong reaction

isolation– n. the act of being separated from others

pursuing– v. seeking; working to possess