Officials Confirm North Korean Missles Have Been Pulled From Launch Site In Sign Of Provocation Pause

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say North Korea has taken a step back from its recent escalation of regional tensions by removing from their launch site a set of medium-range ballistic missiles that had been readied for possible test firing.

The two U.S. officials who confirmed the North Korean move Tuesday spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss a matter involving sensitive U.S. intelligence.

Two Musudan missiles at a site in eastern North Korea had been in what American officials described as launch-ready status for some weeks. It's not clear why they removed the missiles in recent days, but Pentagon press secretary George Little said on Monday that U.S. officials have seen a "provocation pause" by North Korea.

Little did not comment on the missiles' status.

ROBERT BURNS,AP National Security Writer

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.