North Korea has fired two projectiles, possibly missiles, into the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan, according to the Japanese coast guard and South Korea's military.
The two "unidentified projectiles" were fired on Thursday afternoon from South Phyongan Province, in the centre of the country, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.
Japan's coast guard said they appeared to be missiles and landed outside Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which extends 370km from the land.
The afternoon launch timing was a departure from this year's string of tests, which usually took place around dawn.
People watch a TV showing a file image of an unspecified North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station. Source: AP
On Wednesday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency cited an unnamed military source who said that movements of transporter erector launchers (TEL), used to fire missiles, had been detected in North Korea.
The launch on Thursday comes amid stalled nuclear negotiations with the United States and tension between the two Koreas.
On Sunday, North Korea said there had been no progress in North Korea-United States relations.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has set an end-of-the-year deadline for denuclearisation talks with Washington, and in the Sunday statement, a senior North Korean official said it would be a mistake for the US to ignore that deadline.
North Korea has tested several new missile designs this year, including a new submarine-launched ballistic missile fired from a platform in the sea on 2 October.
It says the missiles are necessary to defend against new warplanes and weapons acquired by South Korea, including the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet.
North Korea has also accused the United States and South Korea of continuing hostile policies, including joint military drills.
American officials have played down recent tests, saying they were short-range missiles.
