(VOVworld)- North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile, South Korean and US military officials say. It apparently exploded seconds after lift-off, the South Korean military was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.

North Korea's ballistic missile tests in an exercise on March 7th - Photo: EPA/TTXVN

The US military said the missile did not leave North Korean territory. It was fired from a site in South Pyeongan province north of Pyongyang in the early hours of Saturday local time, South Korea said. The type of missile is not yet known. North Korea’s missile test took place following the UN’s extraordinary meeting on North Korea’s nuclear issues. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called on the world community Friday to drastically increase pressure on North Korea, warning that failure to do so could be "catastrophic" and that the US is prepared to take military action against the rogue regime if necessary. UN Secretary General Antonia Guterres strongly condemned Pyongyang’s violations of UN Security council’s resolutions.  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China strongly urges all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint and avoid provocative rhetoric or action that would lead to miscalculation. Foreign Ministers of Japan, the US, and North Korea agreed to resolutely respond to North Korea’s future provocations.