North Korea Fires Series of Missiles

TOKYO - A defiant North Korea test-fired a long-range missile Wednesday that may be capable of reaching America, but it failed seconds after launch and fell into the Sea of Japan, U.S. officials said. The White House called the exercise "a provocation."

The audacious military test - which included two shorter range missiles - came despite stern warnings from the United States and Japan. The isolated communist nation carried out the tests as the U.S. celebrated the Fourth of July holiday and launched the space shuttle Discovery.

"We are urgently consulting with members of the Security Council," said John Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

None of …