This image provided by the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies via 38 North and via a satellite image from Centre National d聮脡tudes Spatiales and Airbus Defense & Space / Spot Image, shows a satellite image captured Feb. 4, 2016, of the Sohae lauch facility on the west coast of North Korea, in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province. The website 38 North says that North Korea appears to have brought in fuel in preparation for a rocket launch it plans to conduct in defiance of international sanctions this month. Centre National d聮脡tudes Spatiales/38 North/Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies via AP
SEOUL, South Korea鈥擣uel trucks were spotted at North Korea鈥檚 main satellite center, according to a US think tank, however the group says it is unlikely Pyongyang has begun fueling the rocket it plans to launch in the coming weeks.
The satellite images of the North鈥檚 Sohae complex on Wednesday and Thursday showed the trucks at fuel and oxidizer bunkers, the US-Korea Institute said on its closely watched website, 38 North.
READ: North Korea begins fuelling rocket鈥攔eport
鈥淐ontrary to recent reports, the presence of these tankers more likely indicates the filling of fuel/oxidizer tanks within the bunkers than the fueling of the space launch vehicle,鈥� the group said on Friday.
鈥淚n the past, such activity has occurred 1-2 weeks prior to a launch event and would be consistent with North Korea鈥檚 announced launch window of February 8 through 24,鈥� it added.
Pyongyang has announced it will launch a satellite-bearing rocket sometime between February 8-25, which is around the time of the birthday on February 16 of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current supremo Kim Jong-Un.
READ: North Korea may be preparing separate missile launch鈥攔eport
Citing an unidentified US Defence Department official, Japan鈥檚 Asahi Shimbun said Friday that US satellite data suggested North Korea may have already begun fueling the rocket in the face of wide-spread international condemnation.
The North insists its space program is purely scientific in nature, but the United States and allies, including South Korea, say its rocket launches are aimed at developing an inter-continental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland.
UN sanctions prohibit North Korea from any launch using ballistic missile technology.
The imminent launch would constitute another major violation of UN Security Council resolutions following Pyongyang鈥檚 fourth nuclear test last month.
In this July 26, 2013, photo, North Koreans dance under a flashcard display of an image of a satellite during the Arirang Mass Games celebrations in Pyongyang, North Korea. The Unha 3 rocket that launched the 聯Bright Star聰 satellite into space in 2012 is a symbol of North Korea聮s technological successes and a matter of great national pride. The country plans another launch to put an Earth observation satellite into orbit in February, 2016. Although the equipment it will use is not yet known, the launch could also advance its military-use missile technology further. AP Photo
In this April 10, 2012, file photo, an image depicting the 2009 satellite rocket launch is displayed at the Three Revolutions Exhibition Hall in Pyongyang, North Korea. The Unha 3 rocket that launched the 聯Bright Star聰 satellite into space in 2012 is a symbol of North Korea聮s technological successes and a matter of great national pride. The country plans another launch to put Earth observation satellite into orbit in February, 2016. Although the equipment it will use is not yet known, the launch could also advance its military-use missile technology further. AP File Photo