North Korea to launch more missiles, Australia supposes

Alexander Downer made the comments after making a telephone call to North Korea's ambassador to Australia, Chon Jae Hong, to protest the surprise launches.

Photo: North Korea to launch more missiles, Australia supposes

He did not say whether his conversation with the ambassador had prompted his suspicions.

Downer said the North Koreans launched five short-range missiles and unsuccessfully launched a long-range intercontinental missile.

The long-range missile test failed 35 seconds after it was fired, according to U.S. officials. The missiles fell into the Sea of Japan.

Australia backed a U.N. Security Council decision to hold, at Japan's request, an emergency session Wednesday to discuss North Korea's missile tests, the AP reports.

Prime Minister John Howard condemned the missile tests as "extremely provocative" and called on the five nations negotiating with Pyongyang to resolve nuclear tensions on the Korean Peninsula to unite in their condemnation.

Howard said China has more influence than any country over North Korea and that he hopes that will be used to find a peaceful resolution.

Downer said in a radio interview that North Korea has demonstrated "a capability or at least a determination to develop a capability" to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Richard Broinowski, a former Australian ambassador to South Korea, accused Australian and American leaders of exaggerating the threat posed by North Korea.

North Korea probably hoped the test launches will persuade the other parties to the six-nation nuclear talks to return to the negotiating table without preconditions, he said.