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(Image: REUTERS/GETTY)

The Hermit Kingdom launched a rocket – believed to be a KN-11 ballistic missile – from a submarine base on its east coast in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The launch comes amid threats of war while the US and South Korea take part in joint drills in the region.

North Korea have accused their enemies of attempting to provoke war and have threatened to retaliate with a nuclear strike.

(Image: REUTERS)

The missile was fired at around 5.30am local time (8.30pm on Tuesday BST) from near the coastal city of Sinpo – where satellite imagery shows a submarine base to be located.

It travelled about 311 miles, South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said.

The projectile landed in Japan's "air defence identification zone" – an area of control designated by countries to help maintain air security.

A South Korean military official said the country's submarine-launched ballistic missile technology "appears to have progressed".

The launch comes two days after rival the South and America began annual military exercises.

The US Air Force have been deploying nuclear capable bombers to their bases in Guam amid the tensions.

The latest launch from one of the Kim's submarines is believed to be another test launch.

The North's missile tests this year include a launch from a submarine last month that appeared to have failed.