Seoul: North Korea has fired a medium-range ballistic missile, a week after it managed to successfully test a mid-long range missile which experts said marked an advancement in the reclusive state's missile program.

South Korea's Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the projectile took off Sunday afternoon from a location near Pukchang, an area where Pyongyang attempted to test-launch another missile last month but failed.

North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, has vowed to develop a nuclear-armed missile capable of striking American territory. Credit:AP

The missile travelled nearly 500 kilometres before falling in waters off the country's east coast.

The United States confirmed North Korea's latest missile launch in a statement on Sunday.