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North Korea fired a suspected medium-range ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, South Korea's military said.
The missile launch comes two months after North Korea claimed to have tested engines for a missile that is harder to spot and capable of hitting distant US targets in the region, the Associated Press reports.
It was the first missile fired by the North this year.
Experts say North Korea may increase its provocative missile tests in an attempt to influence the results of South Korea's parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential election in November.
South Korea's General Staff said in a statement that it observed the launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile from the region of North Korea's capital on Sunday.
The missile flew towards the eastern waters of the North, according to him.
South Korea, the United States and Japan are analyzing additional details of the missile launch, while the South Korean military is on standby, the statement said.
Japan's Defense Ministry also said it had spotted a possible North Korean ballistic missile. The rocket is believed to have fallen into the ocean, according to her.
In November, North Korea's state media said it had successfully tested solid-fuel engines for an intermediate-range ballistic missile that observers say is likely built to hit military bases in North Korea. US in Okinawa, Japan and the US Pacific territory of Guam.
Solid-fuel rockets are harder to spot when launched, compared to liquid-fuel rockets, which must be filled before launch and cannot last long.
The last time North Korea openly fired a missile was on December 18, when it tested the Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, which is its most advanced weapon.
The Hwasong-18 is built to hit US soil.
In recent days, North Korea has escalated its rhetoric of war against those it considers enemies.
In December, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that Pyongyang would not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack if "an enemy provokes us with nuclear weapons."
A Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile being fired during what North Korea said was a test, at an undisclosed location, on December 18, 2023.
It has also pledged to launch three more military spy satellites, produce more nuclear material and modern combat drones by 2024.
Observers say Kim believes the nuclear build-up will give him another opportunity to call a major diplomatic summit with the US to secure sanctions relief if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House. . /REL
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