North Korea 'could launch long-range missile within a week'

North Korea could launch a long-range missile as early as as next week, according to reports.

Satellite imagery analyses conducted over the past few days suggest that is what the North is preparing to do, Japan's Kyodo News Agency claims.

Such a launch would add to international outrage over the nuclear test the country carried out on January 6.

Thousands in North Korea showed their support for the country's 'H-bomb test' earlier this month. Credit: Reuters

Advanced ballistic missile tests in 2012 sparked fears the North were a step closer to developing nuclear-tipped missiles which could reach the United States.

The country has so far conducted four underground nuclear tests between 2006 and this month.

It is claimed the latest test involved a hydrogen bomb, a more sophisticated type of nuclear weapon with much greater yields than ordinary atomic weapons.