North Korea today warned that US moves to build a missile shield were fuelling a dangerous arms race in space, as countries in the region urged the communist nation to halt apparent plans to launch a long-range missile.

South Korea has demanded that North Korea abandons any plans to launch a long-range missile, South Korea’s ruling party said today.

Opponents of a possible North Korean long-range missile test stepped up a diplomatic drive to stop the launch today, issuing a barrage of warnings to the reclusive nation and threatening retaliation if it went ahead.