New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta has expressed concern at reports North Korea on Tuesday morning fired a ballistic missile off its east coast, leading the Japanese Government to tell its citizens to take cover.

Mahuta was in a bilateral meeting with Solomon Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Jeremiah Manele when the news broke internationally that the Japanese coast guard was aware of a suspected missile launch by North Korea.

Japan's citizens were warned to take cover, but authorities later confirmed the missile had "flown over Japan". It's reported the missile fell into the Pacific Ocean.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishisa strongly condemned North Korea's actions, which he described as "barbaric".

When the ministers arrived afterwards for a press conference, Newshub asked how concerning the activity was. 

"New Zealand has been a long-advocate for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and our stance has been well articulated over a number of years. It is concerning," Mahuta responded.

Manele said: "We share the same position that the minister has alluded to. It is a concern and one that we condemn."

Asked if it was too close to home, Mahuta said anything that impacts the Pacific would be something Pacific nations would "have a view on". 

"By and large, having any type of nuclear activity in our region will be a matter of high concern," she said.

"If the extent of the reports are, as you have said, and again we have been in a bilateral over the last 30 minutes, so I would want to be fully appraised of the matter you have raised with us. But at a general, principled level, New Zealand has been a long-advocate of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and our view has been well established over a long period of time."

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Mahuta reiterated that she had been in a meeting when the news broke.

"We have been in a bilateral over the last 45 minutes, so we would want to make sure we have a response appropriate to the principled position we have always taken."

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expressed concern about North Korea's frequent testing of missiles.

"We are seeing increasing use of ballistic missiles and testing coming from North Korea and we must continue to utterly condemn what is happening," she said. "It is a breach of international rules. It is a breach of that sense of security for the region. We stand with others in giving our condemnation."

The Prime Minister said there is a clear risk

"Our view is that when it comes to the risk posed by testing and the use of ballistic missiles, you are still seeing North Korea as one of those who continues to engage, particularly in areas where you have seen others absolutely commit to an end of such testing. It is a risk. It is an identified risk.

"It is one that poses a significant threat to Japan. They continue to have our solidarity, but we have got to continue to work together as an international community to demonstrate that this is just totally unacceptable, in law and in practice."