North Korea's state media has reported that the country launched what it claims is a military reconnaissance satellite, but the launch failed.

The media quoted national aerospace authorities as reporting that the launch ended in failure, after the first stage of its new rocket exploded midair.

The media also reported that the cause of the accident was operational reliability of a newly developed engine.

Japan's top government spokesperson condemned the launch. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa said: "North Korea used ballistic missile technology to launch a satellite from Tongchang-ri region in the northwestern coastal area of the country. But it burned up over the Yellow Sea and we believe no object made it into space."

He also said: "A series of North Korean actions, including repeated missile launches, threaten the peace and security of our country, the region and the international community. Such a launch violates relevant Security Council resolutions and is a serious issue that concerns the safety of the Japanese people. Japan has lodged a strong protest with North Korea through our embassy in Beijing and strongly condemns the action."

Hayashi added: "The government will work closely with the United States, South Korea, and the international community, including the Security Council. We will continue to do our utmost to gather information, analyze and monitor the situation to protect the lives and property of the people."

At 10:46 p.m. on Monday, the Japanese government urged people in the southern prefecture of Okinawa to take shelter immediately. But 17 minutes later, it lifted that alert, saying a North Korean projectile was not expected to fly toward the country.

Footage taken by an NHK camera on the Chinese side of the border with the North shows a shining orange dot flying in the sky and bursting into flames and after a dozen seconds, the light appears to grow stronger.

Multiple government officials say that they obtained the information that immediately after the launch, the projectile disappeared from radar.

A senior defense ministry official said that based on the color of the flames in the footage, it is possible that liquid fuel in the North Korean rocket was on fire.

South Korea's military says they detected several pieces of debris on the surface of the sea off North Korea.

The prefectural governments of Okinawa and neighboring Kagoshima say no damage or casualties have been reported.