North Korea fires suspected ballistic missile

The missile was launched toward the sea off North Korea's east coast, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.

No further details were immediately reported.

The launch came after warnings from officials in Seoul and Tokyo that nuclear-armed North Korea was preparing to test-fire a missile, including one of its longest-range an intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) this month.

All of North Korea's ballistic missile activities are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, though Pyongyang defends them as its sovereign right to self defence.