North Korea test-fired a missile that failed immediately after launch, the US and South Korean militaries have said, hours after the two countries agreed to step up efforts to counter the North's nuclear and missile threats.
The missile, believed to be an intermediate-range Musudan, was launched early on Thursday from the western city of Kusong, from where the isolated state had attempted and failed to launch the same type of missile on Saturday, the US Strategic Command and South Korea's Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The launch comes after the United States and South Korea agreed in Washington on Wednesday to bolster military and diplomatic efforts to counter the North's nuclear and missile programs, which it is pursuing in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.
After a meeting with South Korea's Defence Minister Han Min-koo on Thursday, US Defence Secretary Ash Carter said such launches threatened the stability of the Korean peninsula and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
"We strongly condemn last night's attempt, that even in failing, violated several UN Security Council resolutions," he said at a news conference.
"This latest provocation only strengthens our resolve to work together with our (South Korean) allies to maintain stability on the peninsula."
The failed missile launch was the eighth attempt in seven months by the North to launch a weapon with a design range of 3000 km that can be fired from mobile launchers, the US and South Korean militaries said.
Han said North Korea was conducting its missile launches for "political purposes" and was showing its limitations through the failures.
Japan condemned the North Korean launch and said it would make a formal protest through its embassy in Beijing.
In June, North Korea launched a Musudan missile that flew about 400km, more than half the distance to Japan, a flight that was considered a success by officials and experts in South Korea and the United States.
US Secretary of State John Kerry, speaking before the failed missile launch, said the US would do "whatever is necessary" to defend itself, South Korea and other allies against North Korea.
As part of the military effort, Kerry said the United States would deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system to South Korea "as soon as possible."
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