A senior official of Japan's Defense Ministry has suggested that North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile on Sunday may have been a test to help develop a reconnaissance satellite. He added that the ministry is analyzing further details.

North Korean media reported on Monday that the country carried out an important test on the previous day related to the development of a reconnaissance satellite.

The chief of the Japanese ministry's defense policy bureau, Masuda Kazuo, was responding to a question at an Upper House committee session on Monday.

Masuda said North Korea mentioned development of a military reconnaissance satellite during a convention of the ruling Workers' Party in January last year.

He said North Korea has launched different forms of missiles this year.

Masuda stressed that the North's actions threaten the peace and security of Japan, the region and the international community.

He also said the latest move comes as the international community is coping with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which makes it all the more unacceptable.

The defense ministry says North Korea's launch on Sunday was conducted on a lofted trajectory, or at a steeper angle than usual.

The ministry officials say Pyongyang may repeat similar launches in the name of satellite development.