G-8 leaders focus on Korean crisis

(Vatican Radio) Foreign ministers from the G-8 group of nations are expected to discuss North Korea when they meet for scheduled talks in London today. North Korea is reportedly moving missiles in and out of storage sheds, apparently as it gears up for a launch.

The ministers were to discuss what - if anything - the G-8 can do in the face of continued war talk by North Korea, and how the group might support those nations Pyongyang has been menacing: South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

Speaking ahead of the talks, Russia's foreign minister said Moscow and Washington are in agreement over North Korea. And separately the U.S. defence secretary Chuck Hagel said North Korea's leaders “have been skating very close to a dangerous line. Our country is fully prepared to deal with any contingency, any action.”

There is speculation that North Korea is on the verge of launching one or more missiles. Reports from South Korea say it has deployed four or five short-range rocket launchers and in addition has two mid-range rockets ready to fire. The reports say North Korean troops have been shifting the larger rockets in and out of storage buildings, apparently to confuse spy satellites -- and to catch them off guard when the launch comes.

South Korea's foreign minister has said the timing of any launch will ultimately depend on a political decision by the North's leaders. They will recognise that there could be retaliation, in the form of new United Nations sanctions, and they are believed to be under considerable pressure from their Chinese allies to take a step back and end the standoff.

Listen to Alastair Wanklyn’s report: