South Korea prepares for possible North Korea ballistic missile launch

South Korea's defence ministry said Thursday that the military is preparing for possible launch of ballistic missile by North Korea around one of its most important national holidays, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Kyun told a press briefing that the military is closely monitoring and preparing for the possibility of North Korea's fifth nuclear test and the launch of ballistic missiles such as Musudan missiles.

Moon said that it would be in line with top North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's orders on March 15 to test a nuclear warhead and ballistic rockets capable of carrying the warhead.

Regarding possibility for the launch of ballistic missiles from mobile launcher, Moon said it was possible for North Korea to launch mobile ballistic missiles, noting that the military continued the monitoring and tracking of such possibility.

The spokesman, however, noted that North Korea has yet to issue a no-navigation zone in waters off the country, widely seen as a sign to launch ballistic missiles.

Expectations have grown recently over North Korea's ballistic missile firings ahead of the so-called Day of the Sun, an annual public holiday in North Korea that falls on April 15 to mark the birthday of Kim Il Sung, founder of the country and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un.