North Korea fired a suspected long-range ballistic missile into the sea on Monday in a resumption of its weapons testing activities, its neighbours said, as the North vows retaliatory steps against US and South Korean moves to boost their nuclear deterrence plans. South Korea's military said in a statement that North Korea launched what appeared to be a long-range ballistic missile from its capital region on Monday morning. It said South Korea maintain a readiness while exchanging information about the launch with US and Japanese authorities.

Japan's Defence Ministry said it also spotted a ballistic missile launch by North Korea. A ministry statement said that the missile was still in flight and that it was expected to land in waters outside the Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that he had so far received no report of injuries or damages from the missile launch and that he planned to hold a National Security Council meeting to discuss the test.