North Korea fires missile

TOKYO -- North Korea test-fired a ground-to-ship missile Tuesday morning, Japanese defense officials said.

The missile test came just days after Japan launched two satellites into orbit that will help keep watch over North Korea's missile and suspected nuclear arms programs. The launch angered the communist state and it threatened to test-fire a missile.

The short-range missile was fired from the northwestern coast of the Korean Peninsula, Defense Agency official Takamasa Iba said.

The range of the missile is about 37 miles, Kiyoju Arai, an official at the land and transport ministry said.

No other details were immediately available.

South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Ha Ju-hean said authorities were trying to confirm the report and declined to say more.

North Korea test-fired two short-range missiles in late February and early March amid tensions over its suspected nuclear weapons programs. Washington and South Korea have criticized the tests as attempts to force the United States into direct talks.

With the United States focused on the war in Iraq, some experts say North Korea might exploit the opportunity to test long-range missiles or reprocess spent nuclear fuel to make atomic bombs.