The world’s big powers appeared divided on Wednesday over whether to respond to North Korea’s provocative missile tests with United Nations financial sanctions – with Russia and China resisting calls by the US and Japan for tough action.

The tests of seven missiles, which came as the US celebrated Independence day, intensified tensions in north-east Asia in spite of the failure of a previously untested long-range missile. The Taepodong-2, which could theoretically hit the continental US, fell into the Sea of Japan within a minute of launch. See graphic