A Japanese daily says North Korea may seek to launch a medium-range ballistic missile soon.

The Asahi Shimbun quoted military sources as saying Friday that South Korea and the United States used satellites to detect signs of the North preparing to a launch a “Nodong” missile toward the East Sea.

The daily speculated that the North could seek to launch the missile around the middle of next month from a mobile launching pad.

The paper said that tensions on the Korean Peninsula would mount further if the North launches the missile.