The US military detected a failed North Korean missile launch Saturday, amid concerns the hermit state may be on the brink of another nuclear test or long-range rocket launch.

"The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) determined the missile launch from North Korea did not pose a threat to North America," US Strategic Command said in a statement about the launch of what it said was a Musadan intermediate-range ballistic missile at 1533 GMT.

"The men and women of USSTRATCOM, NORAD and US Northern Command, and US 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."