Under the regime of Kim Jong-Un, North Korea has fired an unidentified projectile into the sea, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The Japanese coast guard, which first reported the missile launch, said it could potentially be a ballistic missile, but they haven’t yet confirmed it.
Japan’s defence minister, Nobuo Kishi said the suspected ballistic missile had flown about 500 km (310 miles), according to a Reuters report. The missile landed in water between the Korean peninsula and Japan, bringing condemnation from Seoul and Tokyo.
The United Nation Sanctions prohibits North Korea from ballistic and nuclear weapons tests.
With the new year just 5 days gone, this would be the first missile launch carried by Pyongyang this year.
“South Korean and US intelligence are closely analysing for further detail,” the JCS said in a statement.