NKorea rocket fizzles, US says; Obama urges action

By PAUL ALEXANDER and JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer Paul Alexander And John Heilprin, Associated Press Writer – 3 mins ago

SEOUL, South Korea – The U.S. and its allies sought punishment Sunday for North Korea's defiant launch of a rocket that apparently fizzled into the Pacific, holding an emergency U.N. meeting in response to fears the country was testing long-range missile technology.

President Barack Obama called for a global response and condemned North Korea for threatening the peace and stability of nations "near and far." Minutes after liftoff, Japan requested the emergency Security Council session in New York.

U.S. and South Korean officials claim the entire rocket, including whatever payload it carried, ended up in the ocean but many world leaders fear the launch indicates the capacity to fire a long-range missile. Pyongyang claims it launched an experimental communications satellite into orbit Sunday and that it's transmitting data and patriotic songs.