North Korea attempted to launch a missile but the launch failed, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency has reported.

The failed launch of aballistic missile - with a range of more than 3,000km - was on Friday's birthday anniversary of the late Kim Il Sung, the current leader's grandfather and the nation's founder.

The US military confirmed it had detected and tracked the missile launch as it called on the North Korean regime to "refrain from actions and rhetoric that further raise tensions".

North Korea's decision to carry out a fourth underground nuclear test and a rocket launch earlier this year led to fresh UN sanctions.

The country regularly threatens to launch attacks against South Korea and the United States and often fires missiles during periods of tension in the region.