A Japanese daily says North Korea is likely to launch a long-range ballistic missile in the direction of Hawaii as early as next month.

The Yomiuri Shimbun said Thursday that Pyongyang is expected to fire the missile either on July fourth, in time for Independence Day in the U.S., or around July eighth, when the communist state will mark the 15th anniversary of the death of founder Kim Il-sung.

The report said the North is highly likely to launch the missile in the direction of Hawaii, rather than Okinawa or Guam, in an apparent move to apply pressure on the U.S.

The paper added that the North is expected to launch a two-stage or three-stage missile that is more advanced than the missile launched by Pyongyang in April.

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