SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea lashed out at the United States over its plans to build a missile defense shield today but did not directly address concerns that it is preparing to test-fire a missile capable of reaching the United States.

North Korea's apparent moves toward testing a long-range ballistic missile have spiked tensions in the region and drawn warnings of serious repercussions from the United States and others.

North Korea responded today by saying that U.S. moves to build a missile shield are fueling a dangerous arms race in space. It also criticized a Japanese move to buy missiles and associated equipment from the U.S. to upgrade its missile defense system.

U.S. officials in Washington said Monday the missile was apparently fully assembled and fueled, but Japan said today it could not confirm that fueling was completed.

Bad weather over the purported launch site in North Korea today dimmed chances of an immediate launch.

TOKYO— Japan ordered the withdrawal of its ground troops from Iraq today, declaring the humanitarian mission a success and ending a groundbreaking dispatch that tested the limits of its pacifist postwar constitution.Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said the 600 non-combat troops — deployed in early 2004 — had helped rebuild infrastructure in the area where they were based, and he pledged further aid to Iraqi reconstruction.Tokyo will now consider expanding air operations in Iraq to include transport of medical supplies and U.N. personnel, following a request from U.N. General-Secretary Kofi Annan, said Takenori Kanzaki, head of the ruling party's coalition partner, the New Komei Party.The move to withdraw followed the announcement on Monday that Britain and Australia would hand over responsibility for security to Iraqi forces in southern Muthana province, where the Japanese troops are based.

SEOUL, South Korea — Disgraced cloning scientist Hwang Woo-suk went on trial today on charges of fraud and embezzlement in a scandal over faked stem cell research that undermined global hopes of dramatic new treatments for incurable diseases.Hwang was indicted last month for allegedly accepting $2.1 million in private donations based on the outcome of the falsified research and embezzling about $831,000 in private and government research funds. Hwang also was accused of buying human eggs for research, a violation of the country's bioethics law.If convicted, the 52-year-old scientist faces at least three years in prison. Hwang is being tried along with five colleagues who face similar charges.Hwang has insisted he was deceived by underlings and has the technology to do what he claimed, and has apologized to the nation over the controversy.