United States security adviser says N.Korea behaviour 'can't continue'

General McMaster said the latest missile launch "fits a pattern of provocative and destabilising and threatening behaviour on the part of the North Korean regime". While interest in North Korea spikes immediately after a missile launch, within hours internet search traffic is again dominated by TV comedy shows, taxes and real estate.

A South Korean defence official said the action took place in Sinpo, a port city in eastern North Korea.

Describing the failed missile test as "provocative", McMaster said: "The consensus with the President, our key allies in the region - Japan and South Korea in particular, but also the Chinese leadership - is that this problem is coming to a head", he said, speaking from Afghanistan.

The missile blew up nearly immediately, providing observers with few clues as to what the regime was attempting to achieve with the launch, beyond a show of force.

A land-based version of the North's solid-fuel SLBM, this missile was first seen during a missile test near Kusong, north of Pyongyang, on February 12. His officials have been assessing tougher economic sanctions as well as military options to curb North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

His visit, full of Cold War symbolism, and his remarks to reporters come amid increasing tensions and heated rhetoric on the Korean Peninsula.

"The message of the people of the United States of America is that we seek peace, but America has always sought peace through strength and my message here today standing with USA forces Korea, standing with courageous soldiers from the Republic of Korea is a message of resolve".

The United States, which last week acted unilaterally in ordering a cruise missile strike on Syria, has recently dispatched what Trump called an "armada", including an aircraft carrier, into waters off the Korean Peninsula.

The vice president's 10-day trip comes as North Korea celebrates the 105th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung, which falls on Saturday.

Pence expects to talk about the "belligerence" of North Korea at stops in Tokyo, Jakarta and Sydney, the White House adviser said.

Pence arrived Monday morning by helicopter to Camp Bonifas.

He has repeatedly declared that if China, North Korea's dominant trading partner, isn't willing to do more to squeeze the North, the United States might take the matter into its own hands.

Solid-fuel missiles can be launched with less preparation and require fewer support vehicles than liquid-fuel missiles.

Urging strategic patience, she explained: "It's like your kids in the back of the vehicle on a long trip saying, 'When are we going to get there?' Well, in this case, I think we should give the Chinese president some opportunities and some time, as well as pursuing the economic and diplomatic pressures that we have and that our allies have that we can bring to bear on North Korea". While it is still unclear which missiles these designs may be used for, the second canister type was seen on a transporter previously associated with the KN-08 (in 2012) and later the KN-14 (in 2015).

Now, this upcoming trip will offer Pence the opportunity to deliver that message to the region in person.

The vice president said at a fellowship dinner at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul that the willingness of military members "to stand firm without fear inspires the nation and inspires the world". Submarine launches are more hard to detect as the missile can be fired from locations off the Korean Peninsula.

Last month during a visit to South Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington's policy of "strategic patience" with Pyongyang had ended.

The North regularly launches short-range missiles, but is also developing mid-range and long-range missiles meant to target US troops in Asia and, eventually, the USA mainland. "If the North opted not to conduct a nuclear test or other major provocation, the atmosphere may quickly turn around in a way that defuses tension".