SEOUL, South Korea, Jumada II 09, 1437, March 18, 2016, SPA -- North Korea on Friday fired a ballistic missile into the sea, days after their leader Kim Jong Un ordered tests likely aimed at developing technology it needs to acquire in order to build a reliable missile capable of reaching the U.S. mainland, according to AP. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile flew 800 kilometers (500 miles) before crashing off the North's east coast on Friday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it wasn't immediately known what type of missile was fired. South Korean media said it was believed to be a medium-range Rodong missile. On Tuesday, North Korea's state media said Kim had ordered tests of a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying warheads. North Korea also said it simulated test of a re-entry vehicle aimed at return a nuclear warhead into the atmosphere from space so it could hit its intended target. --SPA 02:58 LOCAL TIME 23:58 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w