Officials in South Korea and Japan reported North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea. Soon before, Pyongyang's delegate told the UN that the country had the "righteous right" to test weapons because of the "hostile" policies directed against it.

The South Korean government voiced sadness over what it called "a short-range missile launch at a time when political stability on the Korean Peninsula is very critical" in an emergency National Security Council meeting.

According to the South Korean military, a projectile shot from North Korea's mountainous northern Jagang province at about 6:40 a.m. local time (21:40 GMT) flew towards the North's eastern sea.

Authorities in South Korea and the United States were looking into the details of the launch. On the other hand, North Korea fired "what could be a ballistic missile," according to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who added that his country had increased its vigilance and surveillance.

Pyongyang previously launched a "strategic" cruise missile and two railway-borne ballistic missiles earlier this month. Under UN sanctions imposed over the nuclear-armed country's weapons development, the North prohibits ballistic missile testing.

The launch was condemned by the US State Department, which encouraged Pyongyang to engage in talks.

In a statement, it stated, "This launch is in violation of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions and poses a threat to the DPRK's neighbors and the international community." "We remain committed to a diplomatic approach toward the DPRK and urge them to engage in dialogue," he said.

North Korea's UN representative, Kim Song, spoke at the UN's annual conference in New York less than an hour before the launch.

Pyongyang had a "righteous right to self-defence" to develop nukes, Kim told the UN.

He noted that the US had about 30,000 troops stationed in the South and that there had been no official treaty to end the Korean War, saying, "We are just building up our national defense in order to defend ourselves and reliably safeguard the security and peace of the country."

In 1950, the North invaded the South, and the combat ended three years later with an armistice, leaving the two countries technically at odds.

North Korea would "respond willingly at any time" if the US ended its antagonism, Kim told UN members.

"However, we believe that the United States will not be able to truly abandon its hostile policy at this time."