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Civil defence officials were ordered to shift 1,500 residents in Vladivostok to "safe areas", according to pro-Kremlin media outlets. Social media outlet Mash said this afternoon: "A verbal order was given to relocate 1,500 people to safe areas. "The order came from the regional department of the Russian Ministry of Emergencies."

A relocation scheme is being exercised as part of the training Source

Russia, which has political and business ties to Pyongyang, shares a 24-mile land border with reclusive North Korea. It was unclear where the 1,500 were moved in the re-location, which was later described as a "training exercise", according to FedPress.ru. But it appears to have been triggered by the launch of a missile over Japan last night, in Kim Jong-un's latest warning to the US and Japan. A source told the site: "A relocation scheme is being exercised as part of the training."

GETTY Civil defence officials were ordered to move 1,500 residents from Vladivostok

Is Kim Jong-un developing more advanced ballistic missiles? Wed, August 23, 2017 North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un looks on during a visit to the Chemical Material Institute of the Academy of Defense Science Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 8 North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un gives field guidance during a visit to the Chemical Material Institute of the Academy of Defense Science in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang

Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said the country was "extremely worried" about the launch and the "tendency towards an escalation". He also urged Kim to abide by UN Security Council resolutions regarding the hermit state's missile programme. Mr Ryabkov told reporters: "Regarding the launching of the missiles from North Korea, we stick to the resolutions of the United Nations. "We insist on the fact that the North Koreans must respect those resolutions from the United Nations."

GETTY Russia shares a 24-mile land border with Kim Jong-un's hermit state North Korea

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova last week warned the North Korean crisis could lead to World War 3. She said: "The US and South Korea holding yet more large-scale military and naval exercises do not help reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula. "We urge all sides to exercise maximum caution. Given the arms build-up in the region, any rash move or even an unintended incident could spark a military conflict."

GETTY Russia's deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov condemned North Korea's missile test

In a shock development, Russia's largest island disappeared from the country's online maps by major IT company Yandex after yesterday's launch. The Pacific island of Sakhalin, which lies north of Japan, could be vulnerable to a stray launch by trigger-happy despot Kim. Yandex claimed it suffered a "technical" problem.

AFP•GETTY The missile test flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific, officials said today

World leaders have united to condemn the missile test, which flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific about 1,180 km (735 miles) off Hokkaido. US President Donald Trump said he had received North Korea's latest message "loud and clear" and warned "all options are on the table" He said: "This regime has signalled its contempt for its neighbours, for all members of the United Nations, and for minimum standards of acceptable international behaviour. "Threatening and destabilising actions only increase the North Korean regime's isolation in the region and among all nations of the world."

REUTERS Ryabkov said Russia was 'worried' about the 'tendency towards an escalation'