N. Korea missile launch appears not imminent: source

North Korea did not appear to move vehicles suspected to be mobile launchers for its medium-range missiles over the past two days, a government source said Saturday, in an indication that Pyongyang's missile launch is not imminent.

According to intelligence sources, the North had moved two Musudan intermediate missiles, which had been concealed in a shed in the eastern port city of Wonsan, in and out of the facility earlier this week in an apparent bid to interfere with Seoul's intelligence monitoring.

Four or five vehicles, suspected of being so-called transporter erector launchers (TEL), were also previously moving around in South Hamgyeong Province.

But a government source said that since Thursday the North has stopped moving the mobile launchers, which are stationed on the east coast.

"There are no signs that the TELs have been moved in and out of the facility since Thursday or that missile launches are imminent," a source said. "Situations surrounding the missile launch have not changed."

The remarks came as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday in Seoul that the U.S. is ready to talk with the North though he stressed that preconditions for any talks hinge on Pyongyang giving up its missile launch and nuclear ambitions.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said in a meeting with ruling party lawmakers on Thursday that she intends to "talk with North Korea" and continue humanitarian aid to the impoverished nation regardless of security tensions.

(Yonhap News)