The missiles fell harmlessly into the Sea of Japan, and U.S. officials said the long-range one failed shortly after take-off. But the military exercise drew immediate, international condemnation. The White House called it a "provocation" while Japan urged U.N. Security Council action and warned of economic sanctions against the communist country.

Japan also launched a protest with North Korea through Beijing.

South Korea said the test launches would further deepen its neighbors international isolation.

U.S. State Department officials said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, North Korea's most advanced missile with a range of up to 15,000 km.

The launch came after weeks of speculation that the North was preparing to test the Taepodong-2 from a site on its northeast coast.

The first missile was launched at about 3:30 a.m., July 5.

The missiles were launched within minutes of the July 4 liftoff of Discovery, which blasted into orbit from Cape Canaveral in the first U.S. space shuttle launch in a year.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 8, 2006
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