North Korea on Sunday tested another midrange ballistic missile, in its latest move towards developing a rocket capable of striking the United States with a nuclear warhead.

The projectile was fired in the late afternoon from an area near Pukchang, northeast of the capital, Pyongyang, and flew eastward about 310 miles, towards the Sea of Japan.

North Korea confirmed on Monday the "successful" launch of the missile, which state controlled media said was a Pukguksong-2, a land-based version of Pyongyang's submarine-launched weapon which uses solid-fuel which allows for immediate firing.