North Korea has reportedly banned ships from traveling across waters near its east coast port of Wonsan.

The travel ban will be in effect from eight a.m. to eight p.m. everyday starting June tenth and will run through the end of this month.

Quoting the Japan Coast Guard, the Asahi Shimbun Japanese daily said North Korea announced the travel ban on Monday.

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism raised the possibility that North Korea's plan to test-fire short-range missiles is behind the travel ban.

Pyongyang issued a ban on ships in waters off its east coast before launching short-range missiles in late May.