Much of the world reacted angrily after North Korea defied months of warnings and test-fired at least seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, including a long-range ballistic weapon, the "Taepodong-2"

Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese Prime Minister

"Whatever North Korea seeks to achieve or is speculating, nothing positive for North Korea will come out from this... We need both pressure and dialogue. There will be no solution without dialogue."

Margaret Beckett, Foreign Secretary

"I was concerned to learn that the Government of the DPRK had gone ahead with these missile launches, despite international pressure on them not to. These tests are provocative, and only serve to raise tensions in the region. We strongly urge the Government of DPRK to adhere to its commitment to a moratorium on missile testing. We also call upon the Government of the DPRK to rejoin the Six Party Talks immediately."

Stephen Hadley, US National Security Advisor

"This is something the entire international community was aware they were preparing to do, urged them not to do -- and they have basically defied the international community and gone ahead and done it anyway. It's hard to get a sense on what they think is to be achieved by this."

Tony Snow, White House Press Secretary

"The United States strongly condemns these missile launches and North Korea’s unwillingness to heed calls for restraint from the international community... We are consulting with international partners on next steps."

Robert Einhorn, chief US negotiator with North Korea from 1996 to 2000

"The American officials have said that if the North Koreans proceed with a test, there are going to be consequences... If there aren’t consequences, the Bush administration is going to look like a paper tiger."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman

"We express our regret that North Korea has violated the moratorium and launched six missiles. Such actions definitely do not aid in strengthening stability and mutual understanding in the region. And such actions significantly complicate the situation surrounding the Korean nuclear programme." (Interfax)

John Howard, Australian Prime Minister

"I hope North Korea feels isolated and feels the condemnation not only of Australia and the United States and Japan but also of China and naturally of South Korea... As to getting tough, nobody wants hostilities to break out over this and it has been the aim of Australia and it has certainly been the aim of the United States to solve this matter diplomatically." (To ABC news).

Khurshid Kasuri, Pakistani Foreign Minister

"It’s a very unfortunate development... When you are talking of firing of missiles, we have never been accused of having supplied that technology anywhere - so I can’t take responsibility for North Korea’s actions."

Ban Ki-moon, South Korean Foreign Minister

"The government has serious concerns. It is regrettable that North Korea pressed forward with the missile launches despite a lot of diplomatic efforts by related nations... The North's missile launches are a serious threat in that they are part of the development of a tool to transport weapons of mass destruction, not just from the perspective of international law." (Ronhap news agency)

Rodong Sinmun (Labour Daily), newspaper of the North Korean communist party

"We continue on our revolution in our own way, according to our conviction in this complicated and conflicting situation, as we have such invincible and revolutionary military power, even for the imperialist United States." (Ronhap news agency)

Times Recommends

• UN may halt 400-year-old 'freedom of the seas'
• Where the Rosetta belongs can’t be set in stone
• Gas deal on hold, but Ukraine may pay in the end