The US military has said it detected a failed test launch of an intermediate ballistic missile by North Korea.
The test took place near the north-western city of Kusong at 03:33 GMT on Saturday, the Pentagon added.
There has been no reaction from North Korea.
The country has made a number of missile-related tests this year, despite being banned by the UN from any use of ballistic or nuclear technology.
It comes amid concerns that the country may soon launch another long-range rocket or conduct a nuclear test.
US Navy Commander Gary Ross said in a statement that the missile launch “did not pose a threat to North America”.
Pyongyang insists its space programme is for peaceful purposes.
But the US, South Korea and even China, the country’s main ally, say the recent rocket launches are aimed at developing inter-continental ballistic missiles.
North Korea regularly makes claims about the progress of its nuclear and missile programmes, but analysts say most of them are impossible to independently verify.
The missile, he added, was presumed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile.