North Korea has fired a ballistic missile in the first such test since Donald Trump took office as US president. South Korean officials said, the missile flew east towards the Sea of Japan for about 500km. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the test was absolutely intolerable. <br/><br/>Mr Abe and US President Donald Trump issued a joint statement at Trump's private resort in Florida. Mr Abe said, US President assured him that America stands behind Japan. He said, both leaders agreed that they are going to make the Japan-US alliance closer and stronger.

The South Korean defence ministry has claimed that North Korea fired a ballistic missile today. South Korea said this is an apparent provocation to test the response from new US President Donald Trump.<br/><br/>A defence ministry spokesman said, the missile was launched this morning from Banghyon air base in the western province of North Pyongan Province and it flew east towards the Sea of Japan. The spokesman said, the missile flew about 500 kilometres before falling into the sea and the exact type of missile had yet to be identified.<br/><br/>Pyongyang in 2016 conducted two nuclear tests and numerous missile launches in its quest to develop a nuclear weapons system capable of hitting the US mainland.<br/><br/>