North Korea fired a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast today which may have landed within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), stated authorities.
It is the first test launch since a missile reportedly exploded in mid-air last week.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff initially said it detected the launch of an "unidentified projectile" from North Korea which it now believes to be an intercontinental ballistic missile.
It landed in the sea roughly 170km off the Japan coast, according to the coast guard.
It said the launch was assumed to be a long-range missile, possibly an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fired on a "lofted" trajectory, Yonhap news agency reported.
South Korea's Ministry of Defense did not immediately confirm whether the test involved an ICBM, which has not been test fired at full range since 2017.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in has convened a security council meeting over the missile launch.
Japan's government also reported the launch, and said it could be a ballistic missile.
Now it has stated that the missile may have landed within its EEZ, which is an area beyond its territorial water but where it has jurisdiction.
On March 16, North Korea launched a suspected missile that appeared to explode shortly after liftoff in the skies over Pyongyang, South Korea's military said, amid reports that the nuclear-armed North was seeking to test-fire its largest missile yet.
The United States and South Korea have warned that North Korea may be preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at full range for the first time since 2017, possibly in the guise of launching a satellite.
After several recent launches, Pyongyang said it was testing components for a reconnaissance satellite system.
Leader Kim Jong Un said this month that North Korea would soon launch multiple satellites to monitor military movements by the United States and its allies.
Thursday's launch would be at least the 13th ballistic missile test fired by North Korea this year, an unprecedented frequency that has drawn condemnation from the United States, South Korea and Japan.
North Korea's ballistic missile launches are banned by United Nations Security Council resolutions, which have imposed sanctions on the country over its weapons programmes.
New worrying satellite imagery also indicates production is underway at a nuclear centre in North Korea.
Activity at the Hermit Kingdom's Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Centre suggests the production of fissile material, both plutonium and enriched uranium, may well be in full swing.
