The Republic of Korea has test-fired a new ballistic missile with a range of 500 km and will try to extend the range to 800 km so it can strike any site in its northern neighbor, its defense ministry said on Friday, days after Pyongyang fired a mid-range missile.

The new missiles are intended to counter the threat from Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs, ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said.

The ROK adopted a voluntary ban on developing ballistic missiles with a range of more than 300 km, under an agreement with the United States, but the allies agreed in 2012 to allow the ROK to develop 800 km-range missiles.