North Korea releases first pictures of latest nuclear missile test

State-run news agency declared missile fell ‘within metres’ of target in Japanese waters

Kim Jong-un said missile 'valuable victory' makes US and South Korea 'worried and dispirited' (Korean Central News Agency)

The first pictures of North Korea's latest ballistic missile test have been released, a reminder of the third show of military aggression in three weeks.

The Scud-type missile reached an altitude of 75 miles and fell into the water, about 200 nautical miles off the western coast of Japan.

North Korean officials said they launched the weapon to counter what they describe as US military threats and are seeking to build a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach the US mainland.

North Koreans said their missile test was a success and had fallen within a few metres of their target.

“The ballistic rocket flew toward the east sky where the day broke and correctly hit a planned target point with deviation of seven meters after flying over the middle shooting range,” the state-run news agency KCNA said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was quoted as saying, "Whenever news of our valuable victory is broadcast... the Yankees would be very much worried about it and the gangsters of the South Korean puppet army would be dispirited more and more."

North Korea launches third missile in three weeks (Korean Central News Agency)

The UN Security Council vowed to encourage all countries to tighten sanctions on the country.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida urged his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, to call on China to do more in dealing with Pyongyang after the missile entered Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone.

The vast majority of North Korea’s trade is with China. Chinese officials have pleaded for dialogue with North Korea, rather than sanctions, while the US said it would not enter talks before the missile tests stopped.

US President Donald Trump has condemned the latest test.

"North Korea has shown great disrespect for their neighbour, China, by shooting off yet another ballistic missile," the President tweeted.

"But China is trying hard!"

In recent weeks the US has sent a fleet of warships into North Korean waters, and brought several new launchers for a defense missile system to South Korea to cope with any nuclear threat north of the border.

South Korea’s new liberal President, Moon Jae-in, said he was “shocked” to not have been informed of the new launchers, but later toned down his response to say the equipment would have become “inevitable” if provocation from their neighbour continued.

The US also has 28,500 troops in South Korea for deterrence purposes.

A conflict, according to US Defence Secretary James Mattis, would be “catastrophic”.

"A conflict in North Korea, John, would be probably the worst kind of fighting in most people's lifetimes," Mr Mattis told CBS News.

North Korea also carried out two nuclear tests in January and September 2016.