Theresa May has said she is “outraged” by after North Korea fired a missile over a Japanese Island, sending panicked residents running for shelter.

The Prime Minister, who is heading for Japan on an official visit tomorrow, branded the latest act of aggression from the pariah state as a “reckless provocation”.

The rocket flew over the Island of Hokkaido at around 6am local time on Tuesday before crashing into the sea.

A statement from Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister is outraged by North Korea’s reckless provocation and she strongly condemns these illegal tests.”

Number 10 has said that none of her travel plans have changed in the wake of the missile test after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also expressed his outrage.

Japanese officials said the missile flew over northern Japan, separated into three parts and landed in the Pacific Ocean, causing no damage to ships or anything else .

The launch comes amid heightened tension in East Asia after North Korea threatened to fire missiles towards the American territory of Guam. Pyongyang has also expressed anger at joint US-South Korea military exercises.

In pictures: North Korea military drill Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: North Korea military drill In pictures: North Korea military drill North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watches a military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) is seen in this handout photo by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill A military drill marking the 85th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean People's Army (KPA) KCNA/Handout via REUTERS In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video In pictures: North Korea military drill This image made from video of still images broadcast in a news bulletin by North Korea's KRT, shows what was said to be a 'Combined Fire Demonstration' held to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the North Korean army, in Wonsan, North Korea. KRT via AP Video

Residents found out about the emergency when loudspeakers and sirens went off, with the Japanese government warning: “A missile was fired from North Korea. Please evacuate to a sturdy building or basement.”

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: “North Korea’s reckless action is an unprecedented, serious and a grave threat to our nation.”