Foreign ministers of Japan, the United States and South Korea have reaffirmed cooperation in diplomatic efforts to achieve North Korea's complete denuclearization.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin met in Munich, Germany, on Saturday in response to North Korea's firing of a ballistic missile.

The ministers strongly condemned North Korea's latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which is believed to have fallen into Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Hayashi told reporters that the latest missile's range could cover the entire continental United States. He called the launch an "outrageous act" with which North Korea escalated its provocations against the international community. He denounced it as "absolutely unacceptable."

Blinken called on other countries "to condemn the action, to take appropriate steps, including the effective enforcement of sanctions."

Park also denounced the latest launch, saying "Pyongyang will gain nothing from its provocation." He also urged Pyongyang to immediately return to denuclearization talks.

The three ministers reaffirmed their recognition that North Korea's firing of ballistic and other missiles at an unprecedented frequency is a serious and imminent threat to the security in the region. They also acknowledged the missile launches pose a clear and serious challenge to the international community.