N. Korea fires ballistic missile into East Sea; military on alert

North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into the East Sea on Sunday afternoon.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text notification that South Korean forces detected a ballistic missile fired from the Wonsan area of North Korea into the East Sea at 3 p.m. Sunday.

"Our military has strengthened surveillance and alert against additional launches, while South Korea, the United States and Japan are closely sharing information on the North Korean ballistic missile and maintaining full readiness," the JCS said.

The JCS said it is analyzing the specifications and range of the projectile.

If confirmed as a ballistic missile, it would be the North's first such launch in eight days.

Earlier, North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles on Sept. 12, the day after the conclusion of Freedom Edge, the trilateral military exercise involving South Korea, the United States and Japan.

Two days later, on Monday, North Korean state media reported that the launch had been a fire-assault drill combining four types of weapons — cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, multiple rocket launchers and drones — fired in a mixed salvo.

Meanwhile, the National Security Office at Cheong Wa Dae convened an emergency security situation review meeting Sunday, attended by the Ministry of National Defense, the JCS and other relevant agencies.