North Korea urged to suspend missile test launch

The US and Japan both urged North Korea to suspend preparations for a test-launch of a long-range missile today, and called on it to return to stalled talks on dismantling its nuclear weapons programme.

The two allies made the show of unity amid mounting speculation that North Korea may abandon its self-imposed moratorium on long-range missile tests by launching a Taepodong-2, which is capable of reaching the US with a light payload.