South Korea's defense chief says the new launch site North Korea is building is designed for an even longer-range missile than in the past, the Associated Press reported.
Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee told lawmakers Tuesday that construction of the new missile site on North Korea's west coast is about 80 percent complete.
North Korea launched a long-range Taepodong-2 missile from its east coast site in 2006.
The Taepodong-2 missile is considered the country's most advanced rocket. It has a range of more than 9,300 miles ( 15,000 kilometers) - far enough to strike the western U.S.