US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson confirmed Tuesday that North Korea has test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.

"The United States strongly condemns North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Testing an ICBM represents a new escalation of the threat to the United States, our allies and partners, the region, and the world," Tillerson said in a statement.

It added that the United States "will never accept a nuclear-armed North Korea."