Wednesday, July 5 2006 11:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tokyo: "North Korea has test-launched six missiles including a long-range Taepodong-2 believed capable of reaching the United States, in a striking display of bravado that defied stern warnings from Washington and Tokyo,"officials said.

The missiles apparently fell harmlessly into the Sea of Japan, and US officials said the long-range one failed shortly after take-off.

But the audacious military exercise drew immediate, international condemnation. The White House called it a 'provocation' while Japan urged UN Security Council action and warned of economic sanctions against the impoverished, communist country.

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

Reports cited differing counts for the number of missiles fired, but South Korean and Japanese officials said six appeared to have been fired. One of them was believed to be a long-range Taepodong-2, but it failed after 35 seconds, US officials said. The shorter-range missiles landed in the Sea of Japan.

The test launches came as the United States celebrated its Independence Day holiday and launched the space shuttle Discovery from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

In Tokyo, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso called for the UN Security Council to be convened over the issue, while warning there is 'very high possibility' it would level economic sanctions against North Korea.

"Japan also is preparing to launch a protest with North Korea through channels in the Chinese capital," Aso added.

In Seoul, Suh Choo-suk, senior secretary to the South Korean president on national security, called the launch a 'provocative act' that will deepen the communist regime's isolation. But he said Seoul was still figuring out how to react to the tests.

Suh also urged North Korea to return to the six-party talks on its nuclear disarmament. The talks have been stalled since last year over Pyongyang's insistence that Washington drop financial sanctions against it.

"We are urgently consulting with members of the Security Council," said John Bolton, the US ambassador to the United Nations. Thomas Schieffer, the US ambassador to Japan, called the launches 'a provocative act,' and the White House said Pyongyang had further alienated itself from the world community.

Two US State Department officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the long-range missile was the Taepodong-2, North Korea's most advanced missile with a range of up to 15,000 kilometers. Experts believe it could reach the United States with a light payload.

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 preparations had generated stern warnings from the United States and Japan, which had threatened possible economic sanctions in response.

The missiles all landed hundreds of kilometers away from Japan and there were no reports the missiles caused damage within Japanese territory, said Japanese spokesman Abe.

He said the first missile was launched at about 3:30 am today, or about 2:30 p.m. yesterday EDT.