North Korea could be preparing another missile launch in the coming days, intelligence analysts believe, after they observed the regime moving a mobile launcher.

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said intelligence agencies had observed North Korea moving the launcher within the past 48 hours, potentially indicating another looming test.

It would be yet another provocation in a region where tensions have soared in recent months, with missile and nuclear tests by the North and harsh rhetoric from US President Donald Trump.

The official did not comment on the location or the type of missile, but emphasised that while a launch was possible, Pyongyang could simply be moving the launcher.

It follows reports last week that the Kim Jong-un regime was moving a projectile that appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile toward its west coast.

South Korea's Asia Business Daily said the rocket started moving a day after North Korea's sixth nuclear test, and was spotted moving at night to avoid surveillance.

North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test on 3 September, prompting the UN Security Council to step up sanctions with a ban on the reclusive regime's textile exports and a cap on fuel supplies.

Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Show all 6 1 /6 Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb Photos released by North Korea show Kim Jong-un talking to subordinates next to a device thought to be the new thermonuclear weapon. There is no way of independently verifying the pictures STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korea claims it has successfully tested an advanced hydrogen bomb which could be loaded onto an intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A diagram on the wall behind Mr Kim shows a bomb mounted inside a cone STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) attending a photo session with participants of the fourth conference of active secretaries of primary organisations of the youth league of the Korean People's Army (KPA) in Pyongyang STR/AFP/Getty Images Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters Kim Jong-un inspects weapon North Korea says is powerful hydrogen bomb A new stamp issued in commemoration of the successful second test launch of the "Hwasong-14" intercontinental ballistic missile KCNA via Reuters

Damage to mountainous terrain at the North's nuclear test site in Punggye-ri, seen in satellite imagery taken after the test, was more extensive than anything seen after the five previous trials, said 38 North, a Washington-based project which monitors the country.