BEIJING, May 2 -- Japan has played down the missile threat from North Korea, saying a short-range test launch by Pyongyang at the weekend does not jeopardize Japan's security.

Japanese cabinet chief Hosoda Hiroyuki says the missile is believed to have only flown for an extremely short distance and it is more likely a domestic drill.

    The US government says North Korea apparently fired a short-range missile into the Sea of Japan on Sunday. The United States informed Japan and South Korea after monitoring the launch of the missile.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)