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    DPRK confirms it has tested missiles 

    PYONGYANG, July 6 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) confirmed on Thursday that it has tested missiles, calling them routine military drills aimed at strengthening the country's defense. 

    A DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement that the country would continue to launch missiles, the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

    The missile launches have nothing to do with the six-party talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue, it said.

    Chinese FM holds phone talks with counterparts of U.S., Japan, ROK, Australia

    BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on Wednesday held phone talks with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Japanese Foreign Minister Aso Taro, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea BanKi-Moon and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer respectively.

    Li exchanged views with the four foreign ministers on the latest development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, according to a press release from Chinese Foreign Ministry. Enditem

    Global outcry over DPRK missile tests Video <<<

    BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Countries across the world on Wednesday expressed deep concern about the missile tests conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), considering the move detrimental to regional peace and stability.

    Members of the six-party talks except the DPRK all reacted swiftly to the tests. 

    UN Security Council meets to discuss DPRK's missile tests 

    UNITED NATIONS, July 5 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Security Council met here Wednesday for an emergency meeting to discuss the missile tests by the Democratic People' s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Guangya told reporters before the meeting that China is concerned about what happened Tuesday and noted that what actions the Council will take depends on the consultation of all council members.

    "If all Council members feel that some appropriate action is needed by the Council, then we will see," he said.

    The emergency meeting was proposed by the Japanese delegation and consultation at the expert level is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in Beijing Wednesday that China is "seriously concerned" over the tensions caused by the missile test-firing by the DPRK. Enditem

    DPRK missile launch "provocative": US

    WASHINGTON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley said on Tuesday that the launch of missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was a "provocative behavior" but posed no apparent threat to U.S. territory.

    "We do consider it provocative behavior" as the DPRK move violated a missile test moratorium, Hadley said.

    The DPRK test fired a total of five missiles, including the long-range Taepodong 2 missile that resulted in failure about one minute after launch, U.S. officials said.

    Hadley said that the missile launch by the DPRK posed no apparent threat to U.S. territory as "a missile that fails after 40 seconds is not a threat to the United States," he said. Enditem 

    Some countries react to DPRK's missile test-firing, Pyongyang remains silent

    BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhua) -- South Korea, Japan, the United States and Australia responded rapidly on Wednesday to the reported missile test-firing by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier in the morning. But the DPRK had so far remained silent.

    Defense and intelligence officials in Seoul, Tokyo and Washington were quoted by media as saying that the DPRK test-fired six missiles of different ranges on Wednesday morning.

    The South Korean government issued a statement expressing "deep regret" over the alleged launch of the missiles, including the long-range Taepodong-2 missile and the Rodong missiles.Full story>> 

    Resumption of six-party talks on DPRK nuclear issue urged 

    UNITED NATIONS, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitali Churkin, called on Wednesday for a resumption of the six-party talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear Issue.

    Churkin made the remarks after an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council discussed the reported missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

    He stressed that while "a strong and clear message is needed, the goal should be a resumption of the six-party talks, suspended since September, and a diplomatic solution."

    "I frankly do not expect anybody would be proposing any sanctions," Churkin observed, obviously referring to a draft resolution being proposed by Japan. Full story>>

    DPRK test-fires 6th missile: report

    

File photo shows DPRK's Taepodong 2 missile. (File Photo)

    TOKYO, July 5 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired the sixth missile at around 8:20 a.m. Wednesday (2320 GMT, Tuesday), Kyodo News quoted Japan's Defense Agency as saying.

    But the DPRK have remained silent over similar reports so far.