'Bad idea' if North Korea tests missile, says US

WASHINGTON - It would be a "bad idea" for North Korea to test a long-range missile, and Pyongyang should return to six-party talks on its nuclear programme, White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley said today.

US officials have said North Korea is making plans to test an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the United States, but there were differing opinions about when a launch might come.

"We think that would be a bad idea for North Korea. We think what North Korea ought to do is come back to the six-party talks and talk about how they're going to give up their nuclear programme," Hadley said in an interview on CNN.

Six-country talks on North Korea's nuclear programmes are stalemated and international attention has shifted to concerns that Iran is building a nuclear weapon.

Japanese media previously reported there had been signs of North Korea making preparations to test a multiple-stage Taepodong 2 missile since early May.

- REUTERS