Pyongyang has said that its latest ballistic missile test was successful, according to its state-run news agency. KCNA said that the rocket hit a "planned target point" and had been "guided" by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.

South Korea's military said on Saturday 29 May that they believed North Korea had fired a scud missile which flew around 450km to land in Japanese waters.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary said that the launch had violated UN resolutions.

"North Korea's provocation by ignoring repeated warnings from international society is absolutely unacceptable." said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Now that it is confirmed, it is the third such test by North Korea in three weeks. The escalating tensions over the country's test have even led the United States to plan to conduct an interception test which involved shooting down a missile aimed at the US mainland.

The latest test also prompted a Twitter reaction from US President Donald Trump, who said that North Korea had "shown great disrespect for their neighbour, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile...but China is trying hard!"

North Korea is a nuclear-armed nation and thought to be attempting to create a missile capable of reaching the mainland US, though experts consider that goal still to be some way off.