Preparations being made to test fire a long range ballistic missile

North Korea is preparing to test-fire a ballistic missile that is capable of hitting the United States. International intelligence agencies have confirmed activity in line with these reports and believe that the long-range missile, a Taepodong-2 model, could be ready within one to two months. The move comes amid increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula; since the beginning of 2009, North Korea has closed its borders with South Korea and has also stated that it is abandoning its pacts with Seoul. Although North Korea agreed in 2008 to abandon its nuclear program after six-party talks and dismantled a reactor, negotiations to complete the disarmament have come to a halt.