NORTH Korea test-fired a short-range ballistic missile into the East Sea, South Korea’s military says, the latest in a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang.

“The missile was fired at 21.40pm local time (10:40pm AEST) into the East Sea in a north eastern direction from Jangsan Cape on the western coastal region,” an official with the Joint Chiefs of Staff was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency on Saturday.

“We estimate its range to have been about 500 kilometres,” the official said, adding that it was presumed to be a Scud-type missile.

North Korea routinely test-fires missiles, but the latest incident marks the country’s seventh ballistic missile launch this year.

Analysts say the increased activity comes in response to South Korea and the United States’ regular joint military drills.

The missile launch falls foul of a July 17 UN Security Council resolution on the regime’s short-range missile launches.