USA and South Korean officials say North Korea fired a medium-range missile Sunday that appears to be similar to one the country tested earlier this year.
DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un supervised the test-fire of a ground-to-ground medium-to-long range strategic ballistic missile "Pukguksong-2" OB Sunday, Xinhua reported.
KCNA said the test "aimed to finally verify all the technical indexes of the weapon system and thoroughly examine its adaptability under various battle conditions, before its deployment at military units for action".
The missile, which was described by Washington as medium-range, was sacked from Pukchang in South Pyongan province and travelled about 500 kilometres (310 miles) before landing in the Sea of Japan, according to the South's armed forces.
Missile tests such as Sunday's present a hard challenge to Moon, a liberal who took over as South Korea's president on May 10 and has expressed a desire to reach out to the North. Pyongyang's aggressive push to improve its weapons program also makes it one of the most urgent foreign policy concerns for the Trump administration.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday it was too early to know if the global pressures being exerted on North Korea to discourage its weapons programs were having an impact.
The latest launch comes a week after North Korea successfully tested a new midrange missile that it said could carry a heavy nuclear warhead.
The official Korean Central News Agency confirmed Monday the missile was a Pukguksong-2, a medium-to-long range ballistic missile also launched in February.
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The missile flew about 500 kilometers, according to the JCS, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in has reportedly ordered a meeting of the country's National Security Council (NSC) in response.
Washington had been signaling for a more engaging attitude toward Pyongyang, saying it will keep the door open to dialogue with North Korea on the condition the regime will change its behaviors.
North Korea on Sunday fired a midrange ballistic missile, U.
A picture released by North Korea last month which shows ballistic missiles on display during a military parade.
South Korea's incoming left-leaning government has taken a more conciliatory line with Pyongyang than its conservative predecessors, but has reacted strongly to the latest two missile tests.
Japanese officials said it landed in waters about 400 km away from Oki Islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
The launches, and a threatened sixth nuclear test, have fuelled tension with the administration of US President Donald Trump, who has vowed that such an ICBM launch "won't happen".
Still, there are no signs of Kim's regime abandoning its desire to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting as far as the USA mainland. The missile launch Sunday was the eighth this year.
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