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The missile that had caused the most concern in advance was the Taepodong-2, but it apparently failed, crashing some 40 seconds after launch. The launches, which are likely to heighten tensions on the peninsula, met with immediate worldwide condemnation.

"This morning at 5 o’clock in Taepodong, Hwadae-gun, in North Hamgyeong Province and from 3:32 a.m. in Gitdaeryung, Anbyun, Gangwon Province, six missiles were launched including five Scud and Rodong and one Taepodong-2 missile," Cheong Wa Dae security secretary Suh Choo-suk said earlier reading a government statement after an emergency meeting of the National Security Council.

"In an apparent failure, the Taepodong-2 missile crashed into the East Sea after it was launched," Suh said. "North Korea must take full responsibility for aggaravating the situation with the missile launch."

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton has requested an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss whether to refer North Korea to the council over the launch.

U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said the launches were not an immediate direct threat to America but constituted "provocative behavior."

Hadley said the U.S. has learned from the launch that North Korea can launch Scud and Rodong missiles, which he said was nothing new, but the Taepodong-2 clearly failed. He said this told the U.S. a lot about Pyongyang’s capabilities.

Dr. Jim Walsh, a Research Associate at MIT’s Security Studies Program, told CBS, "It's very difficult technology. They very clearly have not mastered it. Most estimates are they will not master it for another 10 years."

Prof. Choi Kyu-hong, of Yonsei University’s Department of Astronomy agreed. "In the first stage, the missile must ignite for a minimum of one or two minutes. The fact that it’s burned out and exploded after 40 seconds means that the technical capability is still not sufficient,” he said.

With the failed launch, experts say North Korea has scored an own goal, severely diminishing the efficacy of the missile card in international negotiations.

"North Korea has to show that its nuclear program is complete, and in order to export missiles, it must show that its missile technology works,” said Baek Seung-joo, director of North Korea research at Seoul's Korea Institute for Defense. “Since this is also an important issue in the maintenance of the regime, it will certainly not give up and will in fact speed up work on missile development.”

(englishnews@chosun.com )