South Korean news agency says North Korea fires new missile

FILE - In this May 31, 2016, file photo, a man watches a TV news program reporting about a missile launch of North Korea, at the Seoul Train Station in Seoul, South Korea. In a remarkable show of persistence, North Korea on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, fired two suspected powerful new Musudan mid-range missiles, U.S. and South Korean military officials said, but at least one of the launches apparently failed, Pyongyang's fifth such reported flop since April. The letters read on top left: "Fail, North Korea's Musudan missile." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

A man watches a TV news program reporting a missile launch of North Korea, at the Seoul Train Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. In a remarkable show of persistence, North Korea on Wednesday fired two suspected powerful new Musudan midrange ballistic missiles, U.S. and South Korean military officials said, its fifth and sixth such attempts since April. The letters read on left top, " North Korea's Musudan flew 400 kilometers (250 miles). (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

South Korean army soldiers prepare to fire 105mm howitzers during an exercise in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea Wednesday, June 22, 2016. In a remarkable show of persistence, North Korea on Wednesday fired two suspected powerful new Musudan mid-range missiles, U.S. and South Korean military officials said, but at least one of the launches apparently failed, Pyongyang's fifth such reported flop since April. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

South Korea's Yonhap news agency says North Korea has fired what appears to be a powerful new mid-range missile from its east coast. The report couldn't be immediately confirmed.

The agency cited the Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying Wednesday's firing appears to be the latest attempt to launch a Musudan missile, whose potential 3,500-kilometer (2,180 mile) range puts U.S. military bases in Asia and the Pacific within its striking distance.

South Korean officials say the last four launches have failed. It was unclear what happened in the latest firing.

In April, North Korea attempted unsuccessfully to launch three suspected Musudan missiles. All exploded in midair or crashed, according to South Korean defense officials. Earlier this month, North Korea had another missile launch failure.