22 Jun 2009

US 'prepared' for possible Nth Korea missile test

8:36 pm on 22 June 2009

Barack Obama says the United States is fully prepared for a possible missile test by North Korea over the Pacific.

The president's comments were in response to reports that North Korea is considering launching a missile towards Hawaii.

In May, North Korea conducted an underground nuclear test and test-fired a number of short-range missiles, prompting the United Nations Security Council to extended sanctions.

Mr Obama said the US administration and the military are fully prepared for any contingencies.

However, he denied he was warning the US would make a military response if North Korea does launch a missile.