N. Korea test-fires ballistic missile, blasts US for provoking 'preview of nuclear war'

This undated photo provided by the North Korean government shows the testing of new solid-fuel engines designed for intermediate-range ballistic missiles in North Korea. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. © AP (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile on Sunday, Japan's Coast Guard and the South Korean military said, as Pyongyang condemned U.S.-led military shows of force as tantamount to "a preview of a nuclear war". 

The missile was launched towards the sea off North Korea's east coast, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.