TOKYO -- A defiant North Korea test-fired a long-range missileWednesday that may be capable of reaching America, but it failedseconds after launch. The North also tested five smaller missiles inan exercise the White House called "provocative" but not an immediatethreat.
Ignoring stern U.S. and Japanese warnings, the isolated communistnation carried out the audacious tests even as the U.S. celebratedthe Fourth of July and launched the space shuttle.
None of the missiles made it as far as Japan, all crashing intothe Sea of Japan separating the island from the Korean Peninsula,officials said.
"We do consider it provocative behavior," U.S. National SecurityAdviser Stephen Hadley said.
'WE'VE SEEN THIS COMING': U.S.
The tests also drew quick condemnation from Japan and South Korea.The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for thismorning and Japan said it would introduce a resolution protesting thetests.
"We will take stern measures," said chief Japanese governmentspokesman Shinzo Abe, adding that sanctions were a possibility.
South Korea said the launches would further deepen its neighbor'sinternational isolation.
The U.S. administration made it clear that its response would notinvolve military action as President Bush consulted with Hadley,Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H.Rumsfeld. The State Department said Rice conferred with hercounterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
UPSTAGING THE SHUTTLE?
U.S. and Japanese officials said six missiles were fired in all,launched over a four-hour period beginning about 3:30 a.m. today(1:30 p.m. Tuesday Chicago time).
The North American Aerospace Defense Command -- which monitors theskies for threats to North American security -- said it has been onheightened alert for about two weeks and not because of the latesttests.
If the timing is correct, the North Korean missiles were launchedwithin minutes of Tuesday's liftoff of Discovery, which blasted intoorbit from Cape Canaveral.
Hadley suggested the tests might have been an attempt to grab theinternational spotlight.
"It's very difficult to know what the North Koreans think they aredoing this for," Hadley said.
The North has been in a standoff with the West over North Korea'snuclear program. And the rhetoric has grown increasingly stridentwith the North vowing Monday to respond with an "annihilating"nuclear strike if it is attacked preemptively by the United States.
Talks on the issue -- held between North Korea, South Korea,China, the United States, Russia and Japan -- have been stalled sincelast year over Pyongyang's insistence that Washington drop financialsanctions against it.
Hadley said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, whichfailed 35 seconds after launch. Experts believe the missile -- NorthKorea's most advanced with a range of up to 9,320 miles -- couldreach the United States with a light payload. The State Departmentsaid the smaller missiles includes Scuds, which could target SouthKorea, and Rodongs, which have a range of about 620 miles and couldtarget Japan.
U.S. and Japanese officials said six missiles were fired in all,launched over a four-hour period.
North Korea test-fires 6 missiles: Weapon capable of reaching U.S. fails; U.N. to meet today
TOKYO -- A defiant North Korea test-fired a long-range missileWednesday that may be capable of reaching America, but it failedseconds after launch. The North also tested five smaller missiles inan exercise the White House called "provocative" but not an immediatethreat.
Ignoring stern U.S. and Japanese warnings, the isolated communistnation carried out the audacious tests even as the U.S. celebratedthe Fourth of July and launched the space shuttle.
None of the missiles made it as far as Japan, all crashing intothe Sea of Japan separating the island from the Korean Peninsula,officials said.
"We do consider it provocative behavior," U.S. National SecurityAdviser Stephen Hadley said.
'WE'VE SEEN THIS COMING': U.S.
The tests also drew quick condemnation from Japan and South Korea.The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for thismorning and Japan said it would introduce a resolution protesting thetests.
"We will take stern measures," said chief Japanese governmentspokesman Shinzo Abe, adding that sanctions were a possibility.
South Korea said the launches would further deepen its neighbor'sinternational isolation.
The U.S. administration made it clear that its response would notinvolve military action as President Bush consulted with Hadley,Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H.Rumsfeld. The State Department said Rice conferred with hercounterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
UPSTAGING THE SHUTTLE?
U.S. and Japanese officials said six missiles were fired in all,launched over a four-hour period beginning about 3:30 a.m. today(1:30 p.m. Tuesday Chicago time).
The North American Aerospace Defense Command -- which monitors theskies for threats to North American security -- said it has been onheightened alert for about two weeks and not because of the latesttests.
If the timing is correct, the North Korean missiles were launchedwithin minutes of Tuesday's liftoff of Discovery, which blasted intoorbit from Cape Canaveral.
Hadley suggested the tests might have been an attempt to grab theinternational spotlight.
"It's very difficult to know what the North Koreans think they aredoing this for," Hadley said.
The North has been in a standoff with the West over North Korea'snuclear program. And the rhetoric has grown increasingly stridentwith the North vowing Monday to respond with an "annihilating"nuclear strike if it is attacked preemptively by the United States.
Talks on the issue -- held between North Korea, South Korea,China, the United States, Russia and Japan -- have been stalled sincelast year over Pyongyang's insistence that Washington drop financialsanctions against it.
Hadley said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, whichfailed 35 seconds after launch. Experts believe the missile -- NorthKorea's most advanced with a range of up to 9,320 miles -- couldreach the United States with a light payload. The State Departmentsaid the smaller missiles includes Scuds, which could target SouthKorea, and Rodongs, which have a range of about 620 miles and couldtarget Japan.
U.S. and Japanese officials said six missiles were fired in all,launched over a four-hour period.
North Korea test-fires 6 missiles: Weapon capable of reaching U.S. fails; U.N. to meet today
TOKYO -- A defiant North Korea test-fired a long-range missileWednesday that may be capable of reaching America, but it failedseconds after launch. The North also tested five smaller missiles inan exercise the White House called "provocative" but not an immediatethreat.
Ignoring stern U.S. and Japanese warnings, the isolated communistnation carried out the audacious tests even as the U.S. celebratedthe Fourth of July and launched the space shuttle.
None of the missiles made it as far as Japan, all crashing intothe Sea of Japan separating the island from the Korean Peninsula,officials said.
"We do consider it provocative behavior," U.S. National SecurityAdviser Stephen Hadley said.
'WE'VE SEEN THIS COMING': U.S.
The tests also drew quick condemnation from Japan and South Korea.The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for thismorning and Japan said it would introduce a resolution protesting thetests.
"We will take stern measures," said chief Japanese governmentspokesman Shinzo Abe, adding that sanctions were a possibility.
South Korea said the launches would further deepen its neighbor'sinternational isolation.
The U.S. administration made it clear that its response would notinvolve military action as President Bush consulted with Hadley,Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H.Rumsfeld. The State Department said Rice conferred with hercounterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
UPSTAGING THE SHUTTLE?
U.S. and Japanese officials said six missiles were fired in all,launched over a four-hour period beginning about 3:30 a.m. today(1:30 p.m. Tuesday Chicago time).
The North American Aerospace Defense Command -- which monitors theskies for threats to North American security -- said it has been onheightened alert for about two weeks and not because of the latesttests.
If the timing is correct, the North Korean missiles were launchedwithin minutes of Tuesday's liftoff of Discovery, which blasted intoorbit from Cape Canaveral.
Hadley suggested the tests might have been an attempt to grab theinternational spotlight.
"It's very difficult to know what the North Koreans think they aredoing this for," Hadley said.
The North has been in a standoff with the West over North Korea'snuclear program. And the rhetoric has grown increasingly stridentwith the North vowing Monday to respond with an "annihilating"nuclear strike if it is attacked preemptively by the United States.
Talks on the issue -- held between North Korea, South Korea,China, the United States, Russia and Japan -- have been stalled sincelast year over Pyongyang's insistence that Washington drop financialsanctions against it.
Hadley said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, whichfailed 35 seconds after launch. Experts believe the missile -- NorthKorea's most advanced with a range of up to 9,320 miles -- couldreach the United States with a light payload. The State Departmentsaid the smaller missiles includes Scuds, which could target SouthKorea, and Rodongs, which have a range of about 620 miles and couldtarget Japan.
U.S. and Japanese officials said six missiles were fired in all,launched over a four-hour period.
North Korea test-fires 6 missiles: Weapon capable of reaching U.S. fails; U.N. to meet today
TOKYO -- A defiant North Korea test-fired a long-range missileWednesday that may be capable of reaching America, but it failedseconds after launch. The North also tested five smaller missiles inan exercise the White House called "provocative" but not an immediatethreat.
Ignoring stern U.S. and Japanese warnings, the isolated communistnation carried out the audacious tests even as the U.S. celebratedthe Fourth of July and launched the space shuttle.
None of the missiles made it as far as Japan, all crashing intothe Sea of Japan separating the island from the Korean Peninsula,officials said.
"We do consider it provocative behavior," U.S. National SecurityAdviser Stephen Hadley said.
'WE'VE SEEN THIS COMING': U.S.
The tests also drew quick condemnation from Japan and South Korea.The U.N. Security Council called an emergency meeting for thismorning and Japan said it would introduce a resolution protesting thetests.
"We will take stern measures," said chief Japanese governmentspokesman Shinzo Abe, adding that sanctions were a possibility.
South Korea said the launches would further deepen its neighbor'sinternational isolation.
The U.S. administration made it clear that its response would notinvolve military action as President Bush consulted with Hadley,Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Donald H.Rumsfeld. The State Department said Rice conferred with hercounterparts from China, Japan, South Korea and Russia.
UPSTAGING THE SHUTTLE?
U.S. and Japanese officials said six missiles were fired in all,launched over a four-hour period beginning about 3:30 a.m. today(1:30 p.m. Tuesday Chicago time).
The North American Aerospace Defense Command -- which monitors theskies for threats to North American security -- said it has been onheightened alert for about two weeks and not because of the latesttests.
If the timing is correct, the North Korean missiles were launchedwithin minutes of Tuesday's liftoff of Discovery, which blasted intoorbit from Cape Canaveral.
Hadley suggested the tests might have been an attempt to grab theinternational spotlight.
"It's very difficult to know what the North Koreans think they aredoing this for," Hadley said.
The North has been in a standoff with the West over North Korea'snuclear program. And the rhetoric has grown increasingly stridentwith the North vowing Monday to respond with an "annihilating"nuclear strike if it is attacked preemptively by the United States.
Talks on the issue -- held between North Korea, South Korea,China, the United States, Russia and Japan -- have been stalled sincelast year over Pyongyang's insistence that Washington drop financialsanctions against it.
Hadley said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, whichfailed 35 seconds after launch. Experts believe the missile -- NorthKorea's most advanced with a range of up to 9,320 miles -- couldreach the United States with a light payload. The State Departmentsaid the smaller missiles includes Scuds, which could target SouthKorea, and Rodongs, which have a range of about 620 miles and couldtarget Japan.
U.S. and Japanese officials said six missiles were fired in all,launched over a four-hour period.
