State Department officials give no credence to the notion that the launch would be for scientific purposes and they say the United States is working diplomatically to try to prevent a North Korean action that they say would be provocative, destabilizing and unhelpful.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

If it's a provocative action, will the U.S. shoot this missile down?

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

We consider this a provocative action, if it takes place.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Any further testing, underground testing, would be a provocative action.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing