The U.S. State Department said it is taking reports of North Korea's new missile capabilities seriously, following Pyongyang's announcement on Wednesday that it test fired a new hypersonic missile.

A department spokesperson in a statement said that Washington condemns any illicit missile launches, which destabilize the region and the international community.

The official added that the U.S. is working to confirm the specific nature of the recent launch as it closely consults its allies.

Prior to the North's claimed test of a hypersonic missile, the U.S. denounced Tuesday's launch as a violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, while still urging the regime to return to diplomatic talks.

Earlier on Wednesday, the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) said the Academy of Defence Science test fired the Hwasong-8 missile from the northwestern Jagang Province.

While the KCNA did not specify if the weapon is a ballistic missile, which the North is banned from launching under UN resolutions, experts say the name "Hwasong" suggests it is a ballistic missile with liquid fuel.