(File Photo)

Responding to U.S. media reports alledging that China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile near the South China Sea on April 12, China's Ministry of Defense said on Thursday that China conducted regular scientific experiment as planned within its territories. The experiment did not target any country or target. "The media coverage on where China conducted the experiment is pure conjecture," the ministry added.

The Washington Free Beacon website, quoting unnamed Pentagon officials, reports that a DF-41 – with a range of 12,000km – was launched on April 12, just ahead of US defence chief Ash Carter’s regional visit.