U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a North Korean missile test carried out during his visit to Seoul on Monday was a reminder of the need to deepen Washington's cooperation with South Korea and Japan to deter an emboldened Pyongyang.

North Korea has launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile towards the sea to its east, marking its first missile test in two months, according to South Korea's military. The missile traveled approximately 1,100 kilometres before falling into the sea. South Korea strongly condemned the launch, calling it a "clear act of provocation."

Launch comes ahead of Trump's scheduled inauguration, during Blinken's visit to Seoul North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the East Sea around noon, marking its first missile provocation this year,