North Korea testfires banned missile

North Korea has test-fired two mid-range ballistic missiles from its eastern coast, BBC News reports, citing South Korea.

The first launch was considered to have failed, travelling about 150km (90 miles) before landing in the sea.

But the second, launched hours later, flew about 400km and reached an altitude of 1,000km, the most effective test to date.

A confirmed successful test would mark a step forward for North Korea after four failed launches in recent months.

Both launches are believed to have been intermediate-range Musudan missiles.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Seoul and the US were "carrying out an in-depth analysis" of the second
missile, and did not say whether it was considered a success.

North Korea, which is developing nuclear weapons, is banned by UN resolutions from any use of ballistic missile technology.

In January it conducted its fourth nuclear test, claiming it to be its first of using a hydrogen bomb. Shortly after that Pyongyang launched a satellite, widely seen as a test of long-range missile technology.