Updated

The US Defense Department is understandably concerned about reports that North Korea has fueled up a long-range missile. No one is certain that North Korea's purpose is just to test the missile because Pyongyang has yet to announce its intentions. DoD spokesman Bryan Whitman said if North Korea launches a long-range missile without a prior announcement of its intentions, then the US can not simply assume it's a test.

The Defense Department says in the absence of any statement by the North Korean government it will not be possible to know whether a widely expected missile launch is a test or an attack.

Spokesman Bryan Whitman would not confirm reports that North Korea is preparing to launch a long-range missile, saying he could not discuss intelligence matters. But he says if there is a launch without any advance notice from the government in Pyongyang, there will be no basis on which to assume it is only a test.

"'Test' would, to me, indicate that you are doing something like an exercise," he said. "You are testing a missile. 'Test' has intent behind it, as opposed to launching a missile. When you are launching a missile, to me, you [others] do not know what the intent of the launch is, you [others] do not know if the launch is intended to be a test or something else."

The Pentagon spokesman hinted to reporters that if North Korea launches a missile the United States might use its new missile defense system.

"The United States does have a limited missile defense system. I will not get into or discuss any specific alert status or capabilities," added Whitman.

No word from Pyongyang after the US issued a warning not to launch the missile.

Update: Drudge reports that Bill Gertz will have an article in Tuesday's Washington Times which says that the Pentagon has activated its interceptor missile defense system:

Gertz reports: The U.S. missile defense system includes 11 long-range interceptor missiles, including nine deployed at Fort Greeley, Alaska, and two at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The system was switched from test to operational mode within the past two weeks, the officials said.

Updated II: Check out Spook86 at In From the Cold who has been following this situation. After 20 years in military intelligence, he has a very interesting perspective.