North Korea has launched what appeared to be a ballistic missile into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula, according to Japan’s Defence Ministry.
South Korea’s Defence Ministry said the North had fired an unidentified projectile on Sunday. Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that it came down outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
The launch followed North Korea’s rejection of a resolution passed by the UN nuclear watchdog against Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.
Pyongyang had also condemned a US-led naval drill involving South Korea and Japan, which took place near Guam from August 29 to September 10.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, blamed the military exercises for “ever-worsening” tensions on the Korean Peninsula on Friday.
She also vowed that there would be no change in North Korea’s course to strengthen its nuclear arsenal.
