Trump says North Korea talks going ahead despite missile test

US President Donald Trump on Thursday brushed off North Korea's test of a sea-launched ballistic missile, saying that planned nuclear talks with Pyongyang will go ahead regardless.

"They want to talk and we'll be talking to them," Trump told reporters at the White House in his first public reaction to North Korea's claim to have entered a "new phase" with the test of a submarine-launched missile.

"We'll see," Trump added, when asked if the test had gone too far for him.

The test was by far the most significant since Pyongyang first began a dialogue with Washington in 2018 over pressure to give up its nuclear weapons. Analysts said the new capability, if confirmed, marks a significant step in boosting that programme.

Trump has said he has no problem with a string of short range rocket tests conducted by North Korea, calling them "normal."

But a proven submarine-based missile capability would take the North's arsenal to a new level, allowing deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a second-strike capability in the event of an attack on its military bases.

The launch came with working-level talks between Pyongyang and Washington slated to resume later this week -- although the venue has not yet been confirmed by either side.

A team of North Korean negotiators flew into Stockholm Thursday ahead of the talks.