The White House is speaking out against a long-range missile test by North Korea, calling it a "highly provocative act" that threatens regional security.

On Tuesday, North Korea announced the successful test of the Eunha-3 long range rocket. The rocket traveled directly over Okinawa before falling 180 miles north of the Philippines.

The regime said it fired the missle to test technology to put a satellite in orbit. The United States believes it's a cover to test missile technology.

With further development, such a weapon could one day carry a nuclear warhead and potentially reach as far as California.

"This action is yet another example of North Korea's pattern of irresponsible behavior," National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said in a statement.

"The United States remains vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and fully committed to the security of our allies in the region," he said.