( CNN ) -- A North Korean rocket slated for launch sometime early next month can be clearly seen in a satellite photograph taken Sunday , the Institute for Science and International Security said Sunday . The latest satellite image shows a rocket sitting on its launch pad in the north east of the country . The satellite imagery , obtained by the ISIS from DigitalGlobe , is said to show the rocket at the Musudan-ri launch site in northeastern North Korea . The image casts a shadow on the ground below . CNN could not independently confirm the information provided by the institute , led by former U.N. nuclear inspector David Albright . Defense Department officials were not immediately available for comment . U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday there is little doubt that the planned launch is designed to bolster that North Korea 's military capability . He also indicated that the U.S. military could be prepared to shoot down a North Korean missile if the rogue regime develops the capability to reach Hawaii or the western continental United States in a future launch . The North Korean government says it will launch a commercial satellite atop a rocket sometime between April 4 and April 8 . `` I do n't know anyone at a senior level in the American government who does not believe this technology is intended as a mask for the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile , '' Gates said during an appearance on `` Fox News Sunday . '' Gates noted that while the United States believes it is North Korea 's `` long-term intent '' to add a nuclear warhead to any such missile , he `` personally would be skeptical that they have the ability right now to do that . '' Japan recently mobilized its missile defense system -- an unprecedented step -- in response to the planned North Korean launch , Japanese officials said . The move , noteworthy for a country with a pacifist constitution , is aimed at shooting down any debris from the launch that might fall into Japanese territory . In a concurrent response , U.S. Navy ships capable of shooting down ballistic missiles are being moved to the Sea of Japan , a Navy spokesman said Thursday . Gates said that the U.S. military could shoot down `` an aberrant missile , one that was headed for Hawaii ... or something like that , we might consider it , but I do n't think we have any plans to ( do ) anything like that at this point . '' He does not believe North Korea currently has the technology to reach Alaska or Pacific coast . Gates said that impending missile launch is a clear demonstration of the failure of the recent six-party talks to disarm the North Korean regime . `` It 's very troubling . The reality is that the six-party talks really have not made any headway any time recently , '' he said . `` If ( the missile launch ) is Kim Jong-Il 's welcoming present to a new president ... it says a lot about the imperviousness of this regime in North Korea to any kind of diplomatic overtures . '' Gates said that he believes economic sanctions are the best tool to getting countries like North Korea and Iran to the negotiating table . Both countries are believed by the United States and other Western nations to be trying to acquire a nuclear capability .
Satellite imagery shows rocket at launch site in northeastern North Korea . North Korea says it will launch a commercial aircraft atop a rocket between April 4 - 8 . U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he aims to increase military capability . U.S. Navy ships capable of shooting down missiles moved to Sea of Japan .