Reuters quoted South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun as saying on October 30 that North Korea has deployed a mobile launcher at a location to test an ICBM and re-enter the atmosphere around the time of the US presidential election on November 5.

The information was given by Mr. Lee after a closed hearing of leaders of the Korean Defense Intelligence Agency.

"Preparations for a launch pad have been completed, and North Korea may conduct an ICBM launch to test the technology right before or after the US presidential election," Lee said.

Park Sun-won, a South Korean lawmaker, said the country's intelligence agency believes North Korea has not yet placed the missile on the launch pad, although it may have been moved to the same location as the launch pad.

North Korea has conducted a series of ICBM test launches with very steep trajectories to allow the projectiles to fall at much shorter distances than their designed ranges, partly for safety reasons and to avoid the political fallout of launching missiles far into the Pacific Ocean.

However, launching with a standard trajectory is considered necessary for ICBM development to ensure the warhead is capable of re-entering the atmosphere while maintaining control to hit the intended target.

The US and North Korea have not yet commented on South Korea's intelligence information.

Last week, Pyongyang criticized joint US-South Korean air force exercises, accusing Washington of pushing the peninsula into a situation that was "out of control."

"The drill is a dangerous military provocation aimed at launching a surprise preemptive strike on the DPRK. The U.S. is pushing the peninsula into a situation beyond its control. If an unwanted situation occurs, the U.S. will be held fully responsible," KCNA quoted a North Korean Foreign Ministry official as saying on October 26.