South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea has fired one mid-range or longer ballistic missile from near Pyongyang into the waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula this morning. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile may have been a type of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). He added that the missile has landed outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone. Japan's government initially urged residents in the country's northern prefecture of Hokkaido to take shelter after the North Korean launch. <br />''<br />''<br />