MOSCOW, June 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is monitoring North Korea's preparations for a ballistic missile launch, but does not know when one might take place, a deputy chief of the Russian General Staff said on Friday.

"It is too early to say when North Korea could launch a missile - this could happen at any time," Lt. Gen. Alexander Burutin said. "Our monitoring facilities are on permanent alert, and we will detect the missile seconds after it is launched."

Japanese and South Korean intelligence sources have said the North appears to be preparing to test-launch two intercontinental ballistic missiles, in defiance of new UN sanctions.

Burutin said that if a missile were launched, it would not fly over Russia.

"But if a North Korean missile goes in our direction, we will shoot it down," he added.

Japan's Yomiuri daily said on Thursday, citing Defense Ministry analysis and U.S. intelligence, that North Korea may launch a long-range ballistic missile toward the U.S. state of Hawaii in early July.

The missile, thought to be a long-range Taepodong-2, would be launched from the country's Dongchang-ni site on the northwestern coast, Japan's best-selling newspaper said, adding that the Defense Ministry believes the launch is most likely to take place between July 4 and July 8.

Burutin said that in predicting the possible launch date Japan has to use indirect indicators and may be wrong.

The reclusive communist state carried out a series of short-range missile launches after its May 25 nuclear test, and has threatened steps to build up its deterrence potential to counter what it calls hostile U.S. policies.