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

An intelligence official who requested anonymity said Saturday that North Korea did shoot a missile into the East Sea Friday from Dancheon City in South Hamgyeong Province but hadn't directed any toward the Yellow Sea.

He said the missile fired is presumed to have been a short-range one, but that it was impossible to find out its exact type.

The official said the North had barred fishing vessels from entering the area where the missile was presumed to have splashed down. He added that the North didn't fire any into the Yellow Sea probably because they had difficulty clearing the western coastal area of fishing vessels.

Another official said he could not rule out the possibility that the North would fire more missiles Saturday, citing the fact that ships are banned from certain areas off its west coast.