South Korea's defence ministry has presented what it said is debris from North Korea's rocket launch last weekend.

The ministry said in a statement that three pieces of debris, displayed on its Navy ship's deck, seem to have been the rocket's combustion gas jet nozzle, and were retrieved on Tuesday from waters 65 miles off Ochung Island in the Yellow Sea.

North Korea said it put a satellite into orbit on Sunday, but the United States and its allies see the launch as a cover for Pyongyang's development of ballistic missile technology that could be used to deliver a nuclear weapon across the Pacific Ocean.

North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in 2012, putting what it called a communications satellite into orbit, but, no signal has ever been detected.

The launch by North Korea, just weeks after the country's fourth nuclear test on January 6, has met a frosty international reception, particularly from its neighbours and the United States.

The U.N. Security Council has strongly condemned the launch and promised to take action, while Washington has vowed to ensure the 15-nation body impose "serious consequences" on Pyongyang as soon as possible.