TOKYO, JUNE 19, SPA -- THE UNITED STATES COULD CONSIDER SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREA AND SUPPORT ACTION BY THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL IF THE COMMUNIST STATE TEST-FIRES A LONG-RANGE MISSILE, THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN SAID MONDAY. SPEAKING TO JAPANESE REPORTERS, AMBASSADOR THOMASSCHIEFFER REFUSED TO SPECIFY WHAT ACTIONS THE UNITED STATES WOULD TAKE IN THE EVENT OF A MISSILE TEST, BUT HE SAID WASHINGTON WOULD CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS. «I THINK SANCTIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT IWOULDN’T WANT TO DESCRIBE WHAT ACTIONS WE MIGHT TAKE,» SCHIEFFER SAID, ACCORDING TO A TRANSCRIPT READ OVER THE PHONE BY A U.S. EMBASSY OFFICIAL. «I THINK WE WOULD REGARD IT AS A VERY, VERY SERIOUSMATTER, WORTHY OF DISCUSSION AND WORTHY OF ACTION BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL,» HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. --SPA 19/06/2006 11:55 ت م www.spa.gov.sa/369708