Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and US President Donald Trump speak at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on February 11, 2017.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the two leaders discussed North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile, among other regional issues, the White House said in a statement.

Trump "made clear that the United States will continue to strengthen its ability to deter and defend itself and its allies with the full range of its military capabilities," the statement said.