North Korea appears to have test-fired a short-range missile yesterday toward the waters off the Korean peninsula's east coast, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
The Seoul government detected and analyzed signs that the North launched the missile, which has a range of about 100km, at around 11:30am, Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unidentified government official.
The report said the firing is believed to be part of a routine training exercise.
South Korea's Defense Ministry could not immediately confirm the report.
If confirmed, it would be the third time within a month that the North test-fired a short-range missile. Prior launches took place on May 25 and June 7.
Last week, news reports and a South Korean intelligence official said that North Korea conducted a short-range missile launch, but the Defense Ministry later said the reported firing did not happen.
The hard-line regime test-fired a series of missiles in July last year, including its latest long-range model, known abroad as the Taepodong-2, which experts believe could reach parts of the US.
The North rattled the world again in October by conducting its first-ever test of a nuclear device. However, experts believe it does not have a bomb design advanced enough to be placed on a missile.
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