The government tried Tuesday to play down the impact of North Korea firing a surface-to-ship missile into the Sea of Japan, saying launches of short-range missiles do not violate the Pyongyang Declaration.

Under the declaration, signed between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in September, North Korea vowed to continue its moratorium on ballistic missile launches.

"We understand that North Korea fired a ground-to-ship missile from its northeast coast," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda confirmed Tuesday.