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North Korea has fired a ballistic missile ahead of planned military drills by South Korean and US forces and a visit to the region by US Vice-President Kamala Harris.
- A single short-range ballistic missile was fired on Sunday morning, according to South Korea's military
- The launch follows the arrival of the nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in South Korea
- It is North Korea's first launch since it fired eight missiles in one day in June
South Korea's military said a single, short-range ballistic missile was fired from near the Taechon area of North Pyongyan Province towards the sea just before 7am on Sunday.
Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said it was estimated to have reached a maximum altitude of 50 kilometres and it might have flown on an irregular trajectory.
Mr Hamada said it fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone and there were no reports of problems with shipping or air traffic.
"If you include launches of cruise missiles this is the nineteenth launch, which is an unprecedented pace," he said.
"North Korea's action represent a threat to the peace and security of our country, the region and the international community and to do this as the Ukraine invasion unfolds is unforgivable."
The launch comes after the arrival of the nuclear-powered American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in South Korea to participate in joint drills with South Korean forces, and ahead of a planned visit to Seoul this week by Ms Harris.
The US Indo-pacific command said it was aware of the launch and consulting closely with its allies.
"While we have assessed that this event does not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies, the missile launch highlights the destabilising impact of the DPRK's unlawful Weapons of Mass Destruction and ballistic missile programs," it said in a statement.
It was the first time the North carried out such a launch after firing eight short-range ballistic missiles in one day in early June, which led the United States to call for more sanctions for violating UN Security Council resolutions.
North Korea rejects UN resolutions as an infringement of its sovereign right to self defence and space exploration, and has criticised previous joint drills by the US and South Korea as proof of their hostile policies.
The drills have also been criticised by Russia and China, which have called on all sides not to take steps that raise tensions in the region, and have called for an easing of sanctions.
After North Korea conducted an unprecedented number of missile tests earlier this year, including its intercontinental ballistic missiles for the first time since 2017, the US and South Korea said they would boost joint drills and military displays of power to deter Pyongyang.
"Defence exercises are not going to prevent North Korean missile tests," Leif-Eric Easley, an international affairs professor at Ewha University in Seoul said.
However, he said US-South Korea security cooperation helped to deter a North Korean attack and counter Pyongyang's coercion.
The allies should not let provocations stop them from conducting military training and exchanges needed to maintain the alliance, Mr Easley said.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday North Korea may also be preparing to test a submarine-launched ballistic missile, citing the South's military.
Reuters