North Korea appears ready to test launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) soon, a top South Korean official said Thursday.

Kim Tae-hyo, principal deputy director of the presidential National Security Office, made the comments to reporters upon arriving in Washington on Thursday for the second bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) session between the ROK and U.S.

“I think it is possible North Korea will launch an ICBM within December,” he said, according to a video published by Yonhap News Agency, declining to disclose more information.

An informed source confirmed to NK News on Friday that Pyongyang has been carrying