North Korea test-fires ballistic missile

North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Sunday, officials from South Korea and the United States said.

It is the first missile test conducted by North Korea since US President Donald Trump took office.

"The South Korean government and the international community are working together to take punitive actions appropriate for this launch," acting South Korean President Hwang Kyo-ahn said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is visiting the United States, made a joint statement with Trump at a news conference on Sunday.

"North Korea's most recent missile launch is absolutely intolerable. North Korea must fully comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions," Abe said, through a translator.

Trump spoke after Abe and gave a one-sentence statement: "I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100%."

Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, spoke to his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan Jin, according to the South Korean President's office. They both condemned the launch and agreed "to seek all possible options" to deter Pyongyang in the future.

What could Trump do about North Korea? 02:29

Another source within the South Korean Defense Ministry told CNN that North Korea launched a projectile from North Pyongan Province. The missile traveled 500 kilometers (310 miles) and landed in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, sources said.

The launch involved an intermediate-range ballistic missile, a senior US official told CNN.

Capt. Cody Chiles, a spokesman for the US Pacific Command, said the missile was either a medium-range or intermediate-range ballistic missile.

US systems tracked the missile from launch until it went into the ocean, according to Chiles.

Emergency meeting

South Korean security officials were holding an emergency meeting about the launch Sunday morning.

Cho June-Hyuck, a spokesman for the South Korean Foreign Ministry, said the government couldn't confirm the type of missile or the efficacy of the launch.

"Today's ballistic missile test by North Korea is the first ballistic missile test this year since 24 launches last year," Cho said. "This is a clear violation of the (United Nations Security Council) and threat to peace and security of the Korean peninsula and the entire international community. The government strongly condemns it."

Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said, "Considering the launch was immediately after the Japan-US summit meeting was held (in the United States), this is a clear provocation to Japan and the region."

Tokyo has already lodged protest against North Korea via its embassy in Beijing, he said.