North Korea is moving forward to fuel its long-range rocket erected on its launch pad in Dongchang-ri, bordering China, where it plans to test-fire it between Dec. 10 and 22, local government officials said.

The communist state has finished filling up its storage tank with fuel located some 80 meters from the launch pad, which is part of the rocket fueling process, analysts said.

Diplomatic and analysts suggested that North Korea may fire the rocket, whose technology is same as its 5,500-kilometer intercontinental ballistic missile being developed to target the U.S. continent, around Dec. 17 when it celebrates the first anniversary of Kim Jong-un in power.

Given the time of fueling, it could launch the rocket as early as Dec. 10, as planned by North Korea.

South Korea’s Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik said North Korea’s planned rocket launch poses a serious threat to peace and security in Northeast Asia, calling its move “provocative” and in breach of U.N. resolutions.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony at Korea National Defense University on Friday, Kim said, “South Korea and its people can overcome this threat by North Korea. The South Korean government will sternly deal with any threats and provocations from North Korea.”

He added that countries on the other side of the world such as Mexico have expressed concerns over North Korea’s move, while Guatemala will collaborate with the U.S. to counter North Korea’s rocket.

Government officials of the U.S., South Korea and Japan warned that they will move to adopt a stronger U.N. resolution and international sanctions, similar to those on Iran, should North Korea launch the rocket.

The U.N. Security Council Resolution adopted in June 2009 following North Korea’s second nuclear weapon test the previous month forbids any nations to trade weapon materials and technology with North Korea. It also allows international search of all North Korea-bound cargo, as well as impose financial sanctions on all transactions relating to the development of weapons of mass destruction.

The allied forces of South Korea and the U.S. boosted its intelligence activity by raising the Watch Condition, or Watchcon, to level 2, as North Korea’s rocket launch shows clear signs of a considerable threat to South Korea’s national security and interest.

Watchcon 2 will allow the allied forces to strengthen stealth and reconnaissance countermeasures over North Korea with its RC-135 snooper aircraft, Aegis destroyers with radar surveillance systems and spy satellites. South Korea has not issued Watchcon 1 since the end of the Korean War.

The allies issued Watchcon 2 in May 2009 when North Korea test-fired its second nuclear weapon.

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)