SEOUL, April 29 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday test-fired a ballistic missile, which exploded after liftoff, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The ballistic missile was fired from a site near Bukchang in South Pyeongan Province in the northeastern direction at about 5:30 a.m local time (2030 GMT Friday), but it was estimated to have failed as it exploded shortly after liftoff, the news agency quoted the Joint Chiefs of Staff as saying.

The military said more information including the missile type and flight distance was still being analyzed.