North Korea has test-fired a ballistic missile, the South Korean military and US officials say.

A US government source told Reuters the test on Friday was unsuccessful and South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that the missile appeared to have blown up a few seconds into flight.

The launch follows increasing tensions between North Korea and the United States and its allies over Kim Jong-un's regime's efforts to develop nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.

According to South Korean officials the missile was fired from South Pyeingan province which is north of the capital Pyongyang.

Japan has condemned the missile test launch as "absolutely unacceptable and a violation of UN resolutions", it also lodged a strong protest.

A US official told Reuters that the Trump administration had expected some kind of North Korean "provocation" ahead of South Korea's elections in May.

The official also said that the move could give US President Trump more leverage to pressure China into reining-in Pyongyang.

New economic sanctions could also target specific North Korean and possibly Chinese entities that have already been vetted by the US, added the official.

The test came as US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the United Nations that failure to curb North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs could lead to 'catastrophic consequences'.

ITV News Washington Correspondent Robert Moore said it was unclear how US President Donald Trump would react.