Japan's government lodged a strong protest immediately against North Korea through their embassies in Beijing.

The Japanese government intends to work closely with the US and South Korean governments in a bid to adopt a fresh resolution at the UN Security Council that would feature tough measures against North Korea.

Following news of the missile launch on Friday, at an unusual time of late at night, Abe hurried to the prime minister's office and convened a meeting of the National Security Council. He instructed relevant officials to do all they can to gather and analyze information, provide accurate and timely information to the public, and confirm the safety of aircraft and ships.

"As long as North Korea continues its provocative acts, we have no choice but to increase the pressure" on the reclusive state, Abe told reporters early Saturday. "We will remain on high alert and make sure the safety of the people."

North Korea is believed to have fired the ballistic missile at 11:42 p.m. on Friday Japan time (2:42 p.m. GMT) from Mupyong-ni in northern North Korea, according to the Japanese government.

The missile is believed to have fallen into Japan's exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan, which separates Japan and the Korean Peninsula.

In Washington, the US government identified the missile as an intercontinental ballistic missile. (Jiji Press)