North Korea fires short-range ballistic missile into East Sea

North Korea fired one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) into the East Sea on January 1. 

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from the Ryongsong area in Pyongyang at 2:50 a.m. (GMT+9), adding the missile flew some 400 kilometres before splashing into the sea, South Korea's military said, according to Yonhap News Agency.

It appears to be another response to Seoul's test launch of a homegrown solid-propellant space rocket on December 30, according to North Korea observers.

On December 31 morning, the North shot three SRBMs from Chunghwa County, just south of Pyongyang, into the East Sea.

In its own announcement, meanwhile, the North said it fired "super-large" caliber artillery shells on December 31 and January 1 in sample tests. 

The North launched around 70 ballistic missiles last year alone.