SEOUL: North Korea fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday, Seoul`s military said, days after Pyongyang staged live-fire exercises near the country`s tense maritime border with South Korea.

`Our military detected one suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea at around 14:55 (0555 GMT),` Seoul`s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, referring to the body of water also known asthe SeaofJapan.

The missile flew 1,000km, the JCS added, saying that authorities in Seoul, Washington and Tokyo were analysing the specifications.

`We strongly condemn the latest missile launch by North Korea as it is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula,` it said.

Japan`s coast guard also confirmed a suspected missile launch by North Korea, citing information from the country`s defence ministry, and warning vessels to take care.

North Korea`s last missile test was of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it fired into the East Sea on December 18.

The apparent test comes days af ter North Korea conducted a series of rare live-fire drills near its maritime border with the South, prompting counter-exercises and evacuation orders for some South Korean border islands.

Leader Kim Jong Un earlier this week branded Seoul his `principal enemy` and warned he would not hesitate to annihilate South Korea, as he toured major weapons factories.

`The historic time has come at last when we should define as a state most hostile toward the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea the entity called the Republic of Korea (South Korea),` Kim was reported as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency.

Analysts said at the time that the change in language was significant, signifying a shift in Pyongyang`s approach to an `ultra-hawkish mode`.-AFP