Japanese government officials say at least one ballistic missile was fired by North Korea, and has likely fallen outside of Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Japanese defense ministry announced that North Korea fired a ballistic missile at around 6:52 a.m. on Tuesday. There have been no reports of damage to vessels or aircraft.

In January, North Korea announced that it had successfully test-fired a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile. A solid-fuel missile can be fired more quickly than one that uses liquid propellants.

The country repeated the launches of cruise missiles, which can fly for a long time at low altitudes, in January and February. Pyongyang wants to mount tactical nuclear warheads on them.
North Korea also announced that it had test-fired new surface-to-ship missiles.

North Korean media reported that the country's military conducted firing drills involving short-range ballistic missiles, which it calls super-large multiple rocket launchers, on March 18.

The media released videos and photos showing at least six missiles being fired simultaneously.

Pyongyang also announced that it successfully conducted a ground jet test of a solid-fuel engine for a new-type of intermediate-range hypersonic missile on March 19.

It said that the success of the test allowed for the project to proceed toward completion.