North Korea conducted a second launch on Sunday, firing an unidentified projectile towards the sea hours after launching a short-range ballistic missile, South Korea’s military said.
The second projectile was launched from North Korea’s east coast, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The military did not immediately provide further details about the projectile, including its type, range or flight path.
Earlier on Sunday, South Korea said North Korea had launched a short-range ballistic missile from the Wonsan area towards the East Sea.
The missile travelled about 450km before falling into waters off North Korea’s eastern coast, according to the South Korean military.
South Korean and US intelligence authorities were monitoring the launches and sharing information with Japan, while Seoul increased its surveillance posture.
South Korea’s presidential office convened an emergency national security meeting following the initial launch and called on Pyongyang to halt ballistic missile launches, which are prohibited under United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Japan’s Defence Ministry also detected the initial launch and said the missile did not fall within Japanese territorial waters.
The launches came days after North Korea criticised US-led military exercises in the region and threatened to take what it described as responsive action.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, has repeatedly criticised joint military drills involving the United States, South Korea and other regional allies, describing them as threats to North Korea.
