N Korea moves ahead on missile launch

North Korea appears to be proceeding with a planned mid-April missile launch timed for the 100th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth, satellite images indicate. An image taken Wednesday by DigitalGlobe shows what appear to be trucks near the North Korean launch pad, while a crane arm on the tower has been swung wide, CNN reported. Joseph Bermudez, a senior analyst for DigitalGlobe, said he could see no sign the booster or first stage of the rocket had been moved to the pad, which South Korean news organizations have reported. "It does confirm a higher level of activity within the overall facility and significant activity at the launch pad specifically," Bermudez said. "This activity appears consistent with preparations for a satellite launch." North Korea plans the launch for some time between April 12 and April 16. Kim Il Sung, founder of the regime now headed by his grandson, was born April 15, 1912. The launch will violate North Korea's most recent agreement with the United States as well as Security Council resolutions, the Post said.