North Korea fires another ballistic missile
North Korea has launched a ballistic missile which flew longer than any of its previous missiles and landed in the ocean off Japan.
Japanese officials are analysing whether it was a second test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
On July 4, North Korea test-launched its first ICBM in a major step toward its goal of developing nuclear-armed missiles capable of reaching the United States.
Japanese government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the missile launched on Friday flew for about 45 minutes - about five minutes longer than the ICBM on July 4 - and landed west of Japan's island of Hokkaido.
He added that Japan has lodged a strong protest with North Korea.
"North Korea's repeated provocative acts absolutely cannot be accepted," he said.
South Korea and the United States also confirmed the launch.
A Pentagon spokesman said the US believes the missile launched by North Korea was an intercontinental ballistic missile.
That means in theory it had enough range to reach parts of US territory.
A spokesman said the missile did not pose a threat to North America but travelled about 620 miles before splashing down in the Sea of Japan.