The Foreign Office today summoned the North Korean ambassador for a dressing down over their ballistic missile launch over Japan.

The rebuke comes after Theresa May revealed she is sending the British warship HMS Argyll to carry out joint military exercises with the Japanese to counter the threat.

She made the announcement while on an official trip to Japan where she vowed to step up security cooperation with their Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to take on Kim Jong Un.

Mark Field, Britain's Minister for Asia and the Pacific, said he has summoned the ambassador Mr Choe II to make clear how strongly the UK 'condemns' the missile launch.

He said: 'I summoned the North Korean ambassador to the (foreign ministry) today and made clear how strongly the UK condemns the regime's launch of an intermediate range missile over Japan.

'North Korea's reckless actions violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions and threaten international security.

Theresa May, pictured this morning at the press conference in Tokyo with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. The two leaders have agreed to step up security and defence cooperation to take on the growing threat from Kim Jong Un

Theresa May, pictured in Tokyo this morning, became just the second foreign leader to be given the privilege of being briefed by Japan's national Security Council. She was given an update n the threat posed by North Korea and the security situation in the Pacific

Theresa May and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are welcomed to the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo. the Prime Minister's three-day visit was intended to be a Brexit trade mission but national security has been top of the agenda in the wake of the North Korea missile threat

Theresa May enjoyed a glass of champagne at a state banquet given in her honour today by the Japanese PM

Theresa May raised her glass of champagne at a state banquet in Tokyo given in her honour towards the end of her visit to Japan, in which she reaffirmed the close ties between the two countries

Theresa May delivers a speech to assembled guests at a state banquet thorn in her honour at a palace in Tokyo

'I urge the regime to end its illegal pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missiles and return to dialogue with the international community.'

The diplomatic rebuke came as Mrs May announced an increase in defence cooperation between Britain and Japan in the wake of the growing threat from Pyongyang.

During her tip to Japan, Mrs May sat in on a National Security Council briefing by Japanese officials - becoming just the second foreign leader to be given the privilege.

Mrs May also vowed to speed up the implementation of sanctions against North Korea after the rogue state's missile tests left the world teetering on the brink of war.

The commitments are part of a new pact agreed by Mrs May and her Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe to step up cooperation on defence to take on the threat.

Appearing at a press conference in Tokyo today, Mrs May said: 'The close co-operation between our two countries is particularly important at this critical juncture, with North Korean provocation presenting an unprecedented threat to international security.'

She added: 'We condemn North Korea in the strongest terms possible for this reckless act which was a clear violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

'In response to this illegal action, Prime Minister Abe and I have agreed to work together and with others in the international community to strengthen pressure against North Korea, including by increasing the pace of sanctions implementation and working towards the adoption of a new and effective resolution at the United Nations Security Council.'

Mrs May's visit to Tokyo comes after Pyongyang launched a missile which flew over the Japanese island of Hokkaido - putting the country on high alert of war.

The new pact includes plans to send HMS Argyll to the region in December next year.

While British and Japanese troops will also carry out a joint exercises together.

Mr Abe said the two leaders had been briefed by top security officials on the threat posed by North Korea and the wider security situation in the Pacific.

He told the press conference that Kim Jong Un's ballistic missile tests are a threat 'felt not only by our country or Asia alone but that threat is felt by all of Europe'.

He said the two leaders agreed 'for close collaboration including the forum of the United Nations' to take on the rogue state.

Mr Abe said the launch of the missile which flew over Japan was 'outrageous', adding: 'This is an unprecedented serious and grave threat.

'We absolutely do not tolerate the nuclear and missile development by North Korea.'

British warship HMS Argyll will be sent to carry out joint exercises with the Japanese as part of a new defence cooperation pact between the two countries agreed in the wake of the growing threat form North Korea

British warship HMS Argyll is expected to carry out maneuvers in the Pacific in December next year as the UK and Japan step up their collaboration on security and defence

Theresa May inspected an honour guard with the Japanese defence minister Itsunori Onodera on board a helicopter carrier in Japan. She has pledged to help Japan in its battle against cyber warfare

Theresa May yesterday took part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony as part of her three-day tour to the country

It is understood the United Nations is discussing increasing sanctions against North Korea, including stopping it selling oil products to China.

Meanwhile, ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the UK will give advice on cyber security and both countries will work more closely on tackling terrorism.

Mrs May also visited the headquarters of the Japanese maritime self defence force where the flagship aircraft carrier IZUMO is based.

Speaking ahead of the press conference, she said: 'As two outward-facing countries with many shared priorities and shared challenges, Japan remains a natural partner for us on defence and security issues.

'I am determined that our defence and security co-operation will continue to go from strength to strength, enhancing our collective response to threats to the international order and to global peace and security, through increased co-operation on defence, cyber security, and counter-terrorism.

'And that must include confronting the threat that North Korea poses and ensuring the regime stops its aggressive acts.'

Mrs May stood on a podium alongside Japan's Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera as she was helicopter carrier Izumo at JMSDF Yokosuka base in Yokosuka