North Korea has banned sailing across five coastal shipping zones, raising concerns of a new short-range missile test, according to Yonhap news agency.

Newly declared “no sail” zones include western waters off Kyodong island, off Chulsan and Sunchon counties in North Pyongan province, and eastern waters off Kumya county in South Hamkyong province.

North Korea conducted an artillery drill firing 370 shells into the sea near the border last week imposing a ban on two shipping zones for two months along its west coast sea border with South Korea, saying that the drill was part of a regular winter exercise.

North Korea has tested short-range missiles off Chulsan, Sunchon and Kumya in the past.

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