NKOREA-NUCLEAR-MISSILE

(FILES) This satellite image, taken June 15, 2006 and published by Ikonos courtesy of Geoeye WIA, shows the location of the vehicle assembly building and launch pad at the North Korean missile facility at Musudan-Ri. North Korea has placed a long-range missile on a launch pad, a US official said late March 25, 2009, as Washington warned it would take the matter to the United Nations if Pyongyang goes ahead with the planned launch. North Korea has announced it will launch a communications satellite between April 4-8 2009 as part of a peaceful space programme. The US and its allies say the launch is a pretext to test its longest-range missile, in defiance of a UN resolution. AFP PHOTO / Mandatory credit : IKONOS, GEOEYE-WIA ** RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE **