North Korea has fired its highest-ever intercontinental ballistic missile and poses a worldwide threat, US Secretary of Defence James Mattis has said.
The missile, launched early on Wednesday, landed in Japanese waters.
It reached an altitude of 4,500km (2,800 miles) and flew 960km, according to South Korea's military.
It was the latest in a series of weapons tests that has raised tensions. Pyongyang last launched a ballistic missile in September.
It also conducted its sixth nuclear test that month. North Korea has continued to develop its nuclear and missile programme despite global condemnation and sanctions.
The UN Security Council is due to convene an emergency session to discuss the latest test.
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Mr Mattis said the missile launch "went higher, frankly, than any previous shots they have taken".
The North was building "ballistic missiles that threaten everywhere in the world", he added.
US President Donald Trump was briefed while the missile was still in the air, the White House said. Afterwards he said: "We will take care of it."