UN weighs action against N. Korea

Japan circulated a draft of a Security Council resolution that calls the tests a ``threat to international peace" and urges nations around the world to ``prevent the transfer of financial resources, items, materials, goods, and technology" that might benefit North Korea's weapons programs, according to a copy of the proposal.

The United States and Britain backed the resolution, but Russia and China appeared reluctant to endorse it.

The European Union, NATO, Australia, and a host of countries condemned the tests, which took place after US military satellites observed the preparations for more than a month and after leaders around the world warned against such an action. Some analysts believe the tests were part of developing a delivery system for a nuclear weapon, which North Korea openly says it is developing to protect itself from attack.

In response to the tests, South Korea is considering boycotting an upcoming meeting with North Korea and halting a large shipment of rice and fertilizer, a crucial source of aid to North Korea's frequently hungry population. Japan, whose islands lie just a few hundred miles from where some of the missiles plunged into the sea, halted a North Korean ferry from its ports for six months and barred North Korean officials from visiting the country.

The missile that has caused the greatest concern in Washington was the long-range Taepodong-2, which some US officials believe could reach Alaska and perhaps the West Coast of the United States. It apparently malfunctioned and fizzled out less than a minute after it was launched early yesterday. North Korea fired at least six shorter-range missiles. All landed harmlessly in the Sea of Japan.

Major South Korean newspaper s reported this morning that the North had three or four more short- or medium-range missiles on launch pads and ready for firing. NBC News, citing unnamed US officials, said last night Pyongyang appeared to be making preparations to launch another long-range Taepodong-2 missile but that the missile, which was in its final assembly stage, was not yet on the launch pad.

The tests ignited a strong diplomatic reaction.

``You've seen global condemnation of North Korea's action," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack . ``I would expect that that pressure will continue in the days ahead."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke by telephone with her counterparts in China, Japan, South Korea, and Russia. Christopher Hill, the State Department's top envoy on the North Korean nuclear issue, was due to leave Washington yesterday evening for Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, and Moscow.

But President Bush struck a markedly cautious tone yesterday, saying that North Korea ``can join the community of nations and improve its lot" by cooperating with nations that want to see an end to its nuclear ambitions.

``What these firings of the rockets have done is they've isolated themselves further, and that's sad for the people of North Korea," Bush told reporters after an Oval Office meeting with President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia. ``I would hope that there would be a better opportunity for that government and its people to move forward."

Bush said that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told him the US military was analyzing the trajectory of the missile s in an attempt to understand the missiles' purpose and capability -- as well as why the North Korean leader decided to fire them.

The White House revealed that Bush called leaders in South Korea and Japan last night. The president thanked South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for their strong statements condemning the North's launching of missiles. He also stressed that he seeks a diplomatic solution, a White House statement said.

Yesterday at the United Nations, no country spoke in defense of North Korea's right to test missiles, US ambassador John Bolton told reporters after the closed-door session.

``The tenor of those discussions shows how little support there is in the international community as a whole for these North Korean missile launches," he said.

Bolton expressed optimism that Russia and China -- two veto-wielding members on the council who have been reluctant to impose sanctions on North Korea in the past -- might support tougher measures against North Korea now.

``It is important that we proceed in a careful fashion," he said. ``The circumstances obviously are different when North Korea launches seven ballistic missiles."

But during yesterday's meeting, Russia and China said they would rather see a presidential statement than a resolution, according to French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere and a State Department official. Presidential statements are not legally binding and are viewed as weaker than a resolution.

Japan's resolution, which was cosponsored by the United States and Britain, was not discussed in detail at the meeting, but lower-level diplomats examined the text.

Russia's envoy to the UN, Vitaly Churkin , called the missile tests a ``deplorable development" and said Russia was trying to verify reports that fragments of the missile landed near Russian territory.

But he urged caution, suggesting that a harsh response might undermine the ultimate goal of getting North Korea to return to the negotiations that are aimed at ending its nuclear program.

``We should also keep our goal in mind and in that sense I would caution you against whipping up emotions too much," he told reporters outside the Council room.

In 1999, North Korea declared a voluntary moratorium on testing long-range missiles, and entered into a separate agreement with Japan in 2002.

In a statement released today, however, North Korea vowed to continue launching missiles in an attempt to strengthen its defense.

North Korea's neighbors -- Russia, China, South Korea, and Japan -- and the United States have been trying since 2003 to get North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. In September, the so-called six-party talks reached a breakthrough, with North Korea agreeing in principle to halt the program in exchange for economic incentives.

But shortly after the statement was signed, North Korea refused to return to the talks.

Stockman reported from Washington, D.C.; Lauria from the United Nations. Material from the Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.