The United States detected North Korea's failed missile launch and confirmed the latest action did not pose any threat to North America, the Defense Department said.

"U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) systems detected and tracked what we assess was a failed North Korean missile launch at

3:33 p.m. CDT (central daylight time)," the Pentagon said in a statement. "According to North American Aerospace Defense Command, the missile launched from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America."

"The men and women of USSTRATCOM, NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, and U.S. Pacific Command remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security," the Pentagon said.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said earlier that the North attempted to launch what was believed to be the intermediate-range ballistic missile Musudan early Friday (Korea time) off its east coast, but the launch ended in failure.

With a range of up to 3,000 kilometers, the missile could reach as far as Guam.

Friday was the birthday of North's founding leader Kim Il-sung, grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un. Concerns have grown in recent weeks that Pyongyang could conduct a nuclear test and a long-range missile launch to mark the anniversary. (Yonhap)