Attention is focused on North Korea following Friday's launch of a ballistic missile. Observers believe the regime may use state media on Saturday to boast about being able to strike the US mainland.

The missile was launched in the morning near Pyongyang. It appears to have landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone after reaching a maximum altitude of about 6,000 kilometers.

South Korea's Yonhap News Agency says it could have been North Korea's largest ballistic missile, the Hwasong-17, which is said to have a range of more than 15,000 kilometers.

The report says the weapon's rocket appears to have separated normally. Analysts are quoted as saying the North's ICBM program has progressed since what is believed to be a failed launch on November 3.

North Korea announced in March that it had successfully launched a Hwasong-17 for the first time. But South Korea's defense ministry said it was likely a Hwasong-15.