South Korea has claimed that North Korea today fired a ballistic missile from its western region into the sea off east coast.
The missile was launched from near the western city of Unyul at around 07:50 am today (local time), Seoul said.
The test follows the launch of three ballistic missiles on July 19 in what the North said were simulated nuclear strikes on the South.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was launched toward the waters off the North's east coast.
North Korea routinely conducts missile and other weapons tests, but Wednesday's launch came after North Korea made angry threats against a U.S. plan to deploy an advanced missile defense system in South Korea by the end of next year.
Last month, North Korea fired three ballistic missiles into the sea.
UN resolutions prohibit North Korea from developing ballistic missile technology.
Pyongyang has repeatedly warned of pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets, although the main focus of its nuclear weapons programme is to develop a credible strike threat against the US mainland.
(With inputs from AP)
