South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a brief statement that the launch was off the east coast of North Korea, without further details.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said North Korea had launched a possible ballistic missile, without providing further explanation.
This is Pyongyang’s 14th launch since the start of the year and comes less than a week before the inauguration of South Korean President Yun Suk-yul, who has promised to be more restrictive in relation to its northern neighbor.
In March, for the first time since 2017, North Korea launched an ICBM.
The North Korean regime has said it continues to develop a nuclear arsenal, ignoring US dialogue proposals.
Observers pointed out that satellite images in recent months show indications that North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test at facilities in the northeast of the country.
Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un displayed several missiles during a military parade in Pyongyang, vowing to develop his arsenal “as quickly as possible.”
Kim warned that North Korea would preemptively use nuclear weapons if the country’s interests were threatened.
