US missile hits toxic spy satellite

"The question is what kind of threat, how large a threat, how sophisticated a threat (the United States faces)."

A network of radars and satellites designed for the US missile defense system confirmed that the successful interception occurred some 250 kilometers (150 miles) over the Pacific Ocean, US officials said Wednesday.

The missile that struck the satellite reduced it to football-sized chunks, and the Pentagon said it had a "high degree of confidence" its fuel tank was destroyed.

General James Cartwright told reporters at the Pentagon it would be 24-48 hours before a full confirmation would be available on the fuel tank.

A senior Pentagon official earlier had said the missile appeared to have struck the fuel tank containing hydrazine, which could have leaked toxic gas over a wide area if it had survived re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

"The intent here was to preserve human life ... it was the hydrazine we were after," said Cartwright, who is vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, rejecting Moscow's suggestion it was an anti-missile test.

"This is a modified system, this isn't a missile defense system," he said, adding that so far the United States has not seen debris touch the Earth's surface.

China called on Washington to provide more information and warned of potential international consequences.

"China is continuing to closely follow the possible harm caused by the US action to ...