North Korea has launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile towards the sea to its east, marking its first missile test in two months, according to South Korea's military. The missile traveled approximately 1,100 kilometres before falling into the sea. South Korea strongly condemned the launch, calling it a "clear act of provocation."

Launch comes ahead of Trump's scheduled inauguration, during Blinken's visit to Seoul North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the East Sea around noon, marking its first missile provocation this year,

North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile into the East Sea on Monday, South Korea's military said, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul amid a political crisis in the country.