South Korea says North Korea fired a short-range missile into the East Sea Friday, denying Japanese media reports that two missiles were fired, one each into the East Sea and the Yellow Sea.

An intelligence official who requested anonymity said Saturday that North Korea fired a missile into the East Sea Friday from Dancheon City in South Hamgyeong Province and didn't fire any toward the Yellow Sea.

He said the missile is presumed to be a short-range one, but it was impossible to find out its type.

The official said the North banned fishing vessles from an area where the missile was presumed to have splashed down. He added the North didn't fire any into the Yellow Sea presumably because they had difficulties evacuating fishing vessels off the west coast.

Another official said he cannot rule out the possibility of the North firing more missiles Saturday, citing the fact that ships are banned from certain areas off its west coast.