North Korea may fire a Missile toward Hawaii on July 4th, Independence Day in the U.S., the Japanese newspaper, Yomiuri is reporting.

The Japanese newspaper, Yomiuri, is reporting that North Korea may be planning to launch it’s most advanced long range ballistic missile toward Hawaii on July 4th, Independence Day in the U.S. July 4th is the anniversary of the day when North Korea fired a long range missile back in 2006. That missile failed a few seconds after leaving the launcher.

North Korean Missile likely a Taepodong-2

According to the Yomiuri newspaper:

The missile now being readied in the North is believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers), and would be launched from North Korea’s Dongchang-ni site on the northwestern coast sometime around July 4, Independence Day in U.S.

As well as their recent nuclear tests and launching a rocket successfully into space, North Korea allegedly has one of the largest stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons in the world. On Thursday, an international security think tank warned that these weapons are no less serious a threat to the region than the North’s nuclear arsenal.

Although major media is reporting that North Korea doesn’t have a missile capable of reaching Hawaii, the text in the photo above says that the Taepodong-2 missile can have a range of up to 15,000km if equipped with auxiliary boosters, bringing it well within range of U.S. soil.

UPDATE: The Associated Press is reporting that the U.S. is in the process of stepping up it’s missile defense around Hawaii.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he has ordered additional protections for Hawaii just in case North Korea launches a long-range missile over the Pacific Ocean.