North Korea fires ballistic missile into sea

North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea on Wednesday, the South Korean military said, according to the Yonhap news agency.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch but gave no details, saying an analysis is under way.

Japan confirmed a launch, with its Coast Guard quoting the Defence Ministry as saying “a possible ballistic missile was launched from North Korea.”

The missile or missiles appear to have already fallen, the Coast Guard statement added.

This launch came amid increased cross border tension as the reclusive communist state has been sending balloons carrying garbage into South Korea.

North Korea’s last missile launch prior to this one came on May 30, when Seoul accused Pyongyang of firing a volley of around 10 short-range ballistic missiles.