North Korea test-fired at least six missiles on Wednesday, including a long-range weapon said to be capable of reaching Alaska, ratcheting up tensions in north Asia and drawing international condemnation.

The long-range Taepodong-2 missile apparently failed 40 seconds into its flight, U.S. officials said. All the missiles fell into the Sea of Japan, according to Japanese officials.

The U.N. Security Council was to meet later in the day, at Japan's request, to discuss the latest move by the reclusive Stalinist state, a French spokesman at the United Nations said.