U.S. Military says no North Korea payload in orbit

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Col (Reuters) - The U.S. Northern Command said on Sunday that North Korea's launch of its Taepodong-2 missile did not send an object into orbit and that no debris fell on Japan.

Northern Command said on its website that Stage One of the missile fell into the Sea of Japan and that the remaining stages along with the payload landed in the Pacific Ocean.

The command said it assessed the space launch vehicle was not a threat to North America or Hawaii and took no action in response to the launch.

(Reporting by Philip Barbara; Editing by Charles Dick)