Japanese NHK broadcaster has retracted its breaking news story about a missile launch from North Korea towards Japan, admitting that it was a mistake.
Earlier, NHK broke news about a missile launch from North Korea towards the Sea of Japan, some 2,000 kilometres off the country's northern island of Hokkaido.
Christmas Day passed without any weapons being tested on the Korean Peninsula, despite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's ominous warning of an unspecified "Christmas gift" for the United States.
The threat came as talks between North Korea and the United States stalled after abruptly wrapping up in Hanoi earlier this year.