A senior South Korean official says the North may launch an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, as early as this month.

Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo made the comment during an interview with a South Korean media outlet in the United States on Thursday.

He said, "I think there is a possibility of North Korea launching an ICBM this December." But he did not provide any concrete details.

Kim is in the US to take part in a meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group. The US and South Korea are discussing the sharing of information regarding the operation of nuclear forces.

The South Korean media outlet said US and South Korean officials are expected to discuss Pyongyang's ICBM-related moves during the bilateral meeting.

Kim also said that extended deterrence is a sure way "to forestall a North Korean nuclear attack in advance, and firmly face down a nuclear attack immediately at an early stage in the event of a North Korean miscalculation." He stressed that Seoul and Washington will strengthen deterrence against the North.

He also said a mechanism that will enable South Korea, the United States and Japan to swiftly share information about North Korea's missile launches is almost complete. Kim added that an announcement is expected to be made by the end of the year.