Japanese national broadcaster NHK on Tuesday mistakenly sent a message to phone users with its app warning that North Korea had launched a missile at the country and advising people to take cover.

"NHK news alert. North Korea likely to have launched missile. The government J alert: evacuate inside the building or underground," the message stated, according to an English translation.

The media outlet realized its mistake and issued an apology and correction within five minutes of the incident.

"The news alert sent earlier about NK missile was a mistake. No government J alert was issued," the broadcaster said in a statement.

Japan has reason to be on guard, as North Korea last year fired two missiles over Japan.

The false alarm is the second to be sent about an incoming missile from North Korea in the past week.

On Saturday morning, Hawaii issued the same type of warning, sending the Pacific islands' one million residents and visitors into a panic. The Hawaiian incident took 38 minutes for state officials to correct.