U.S. media say North Korea has positioned what is believed to be a long-range ballistic missile on a launch pad at its Musudan-ri site.

U.S. broadcaster NBC quoted unnamed U.S. officials as saying Wednesday that two stages of the missile can be seen, with the top covered by a shroud supported by a crane. The officials added that given the missile is on the pad, the launch itself could come within a matter of days.

The Associated Press and Reuters also quoted U.S. counterproliferation officials and intelligence sources as saying the North's rocket launch appears to be imminent.

The report added that the North is likely to launch a rocket between April fourth and eighth, which was the launch window previously announced by Pyongyang.

In Japan, Kyodo News quoted sources familiar with U.S. and Japanese issues as saying that the North had positioned a missile that appears to be its long-range ballistic Daepodong Two at its Mudusan-ri site --- the same site where Pyongyang test-fired a Daepodong Two missile in 2006.