N Korea says ballistic missile test successful: media

North Korea confirmed its recent test-firing of a ballistic missile was "successful", the state-run news agency KCNA reported today, a day after the projectile landed in waters close to Japan.

"The ballistic rocket flew toward the east sky where the day broke and correctly hit a planned target point... After flying over the middle shooting range," the report said.

The launch was the North's 12th ballistic missile test this year -- in defiance of UN sanctions warnings and US threats of possible military action.