North Korea will likely fire short-range missiles in an area off its east coast from which it has banned shipping, a report said.
Yonhap news agency, quoting a government source, said the communist state would probably fire Scuds or ground-to-ship missiles in the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
The North has warned Japanese ships to stay clear of the area for 16 days starting Thursday because of unspecified military exercises, Japan's Coast Guard said Tuesday.
The notification warned vessels not to enter an area measuring 110 by 450 kilometres (68 by 279 miles) at its widest points.
