North Korea launches new missile into Sea of Japan

Japanese officials have confirmed that North Korea has carried out another missile test.

According to the Japanese national broadcaster NHK, the missile landed in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

It is the latest in a series of missile tests that the hermit nation has carried out in recent months, which included, for the very first time, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

The range of the latest missile isn't known, but once again it defies the UN ban on any such tests.

Some experts believe the ICBM that was launched in early July had the capabilities to reach Alaska.

The test, the 14th of 2017, was launched at 11.41pm North Korea time, from Jagang province in the north of the country.

The Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the missile flew for about 45 minutes, which is longer than the ICBM.

Emergency meetings have been taking place in Tokyo and Seoul, while officials in the US have also been discussing the latest test.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Logan said: "We detected a launch of a ballistic missile from North Korea.

"We are assessing and will have more information soon."

It comes one day before the US is due to begin tests of their THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) anti-missile defence system in South Korea.

The US Senate passed new sanctions against North Korea earlier this week in retaliation for their recent tests.