North Korea fires off apparent ballistic missile

North Korea fired off a suspected ballistic missile, Japan’s Defense Ministry said Thursday. The South Korean military also confirmed the launch of an unidentified projectile into the East Sea, Seoul’s name for the Sea of Japan. The Defense Ministry in Tokyo said the missile had splashed down minutes after launch.

It was believed to have fallen outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. Pyongyang last fired a ballistic missile on Oct. 12, testing what it said was a it said was a “tactical” ballistic missile to confirm the success of a technical upgrade to “an important core element.”