The North Korean submarine-launched ballistic missile, test-fired on Wednesday, was launched at a higher angle which allowed to shorten its flight distance, the South Korean Yonhap news agency reported on Thursday citing the North Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

TOKYO (Sputnik) – The test-fire was conducted under a high-angle fire system using a solid fuel engine not to have any negative affect on the neighboring countries, the KCNA said.

According to Yonhap, the missile could have flown over 1,000 kilometers (over 620 miles) if it were fired at a regular angle.

On Wednesday, media reports emerged that Pyongyang had launched a ballistic missile from a submarine in the Sea of Japan. The missile reportedly flew about 500 kilometers (300 miles) towards Japan, allegedly falling in Japan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

According the South Korean military, this is the longest flight by the missile of the kind for North Korea.

Since the start of this year, North Korea has been at the center of international attention in view of its active missile testing. Pyongyang’s January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch in February resulted in the tightening of sanctions against North Korea in a new UN Security Council resolution adopted in March.

The United Nations previously imposed sanctions on North Korea for three tests it carried out in 2006, 2009 and 2013.