Shenzhen [China], September 21: North Korea has fired at least one ballistic missile towards the sea east of the Korean Peninsula, according to Japanese and South Korean reports on Sunday.
The launch took place at 3pm (0600 GMT) on Sunday from the area around the eastern coastal city of Wonsan, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, according to a story published by the South Korean news agency Yonhap.
The missile flew about 450 kilometres.
The Japanese Defence Ministry said the missile fell into the sea outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.
North Korea last fired several short-range ballistic missiles towards the body of water on September 12. Those launches came one day after the end of a five-day military exercise involving South Korea, the United States and Japan.
The two launches on Sunday brought the total ballistic launches this year by the secretive state to at least 15, which have been spread over nine instances, Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's defence minister, told reporters during a press conference on Sunday.
North Korea regularly tests ballistic missiles and other weapons systems. Experts believe the tests serve to further develop military capabilities and demonstrate strength.
The isolated country under leader Kim Jong Un is generally prohibited from firing ballistic missiles under several UN Security Council resolutions.
Source: Qatar Tribune
