Seoul, Japan: North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile Off East Coast

North Korea launched a ballistic missile Sunday off its east coast, South Korea said.

South Korea's Joint Chief of Staff said the launch was made Sunday morning local time but gave no further details.

The launch came three days after North Korea said it tested a "high-thrust solid-fuel motor" for a new strategic weapon, a development that could allow it to possess a more mobile, harder-to-detect arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland.

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  Both missiles launched by North Korea on Sunday were ballistic, Deputy Minister of Defense of Japan Toshiro Ino told reporters.

According to him, both North Korean missiles flew about 500 km, their maximum flight altitude was 550 km.