NORTH Korea has launched a ballistic missile in the past few minutes, sparking a ferocious "precision strike" rocket response from South Korea.
North Korea has launched a ballistic missile in the past few minutes, US sources have warned.
The missile was fired eastwards from the hermit state. US and South Korean officials are working together on further details.
It may have landed in Japan's Exclusive Economix Zone.
The South Korean military said the ballistic missile was launched shortly before 3am local time (6pm GMT).
This late-night launch is rare, with most taking place during daylight hours.
A South Korean military official said: “We confirm that we have detected a North Korean ballistic missile launch. The missile is still travelling towards the direction to the East Sea, as we are monitoring right now.
“North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile early this morning from Pyongsong, South Pyongan to the east direction. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff is analyzing more details of the missile with the US side.”
An emergency meeting of Japan’s cabinet over conference call was scheduled for 3.30am local time (6.30pm GMT).
A statement from Tokyo is expected in the new few minutes.
The Pentagon said it had detected a “probably” missile launch.
Spokesman Colonel Robert Manning said: “We detected a probable missile launch from North Korea. We are in the process of assessing the situation and will provide additional details when available.”
South Korean news agency Yonhap said: “North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile from South Pyongan Province early Wednesday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
“The missile flew eastward and the South Korean military is analyzing details with the US, it said.”
It is North Korea's first missile launch since mid-September, when it fired a missile over Japan.
The missile launch comes just hours after US government sources warned a North Korea missile launch could take place in the "next few days".
And earlier today North Korea issued a sabre-rattling statement in a state-run propaganda newspaper.
The mouthpiece for Kim’s one-party government said: “The army and people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will surely accelerate the final victory in the standoff with the US.
“The US is driving the situation on the Korean peninsula to the brink of war by mobilising huge aggression forces while tightening the sanctions upon the DPRK.”