North Korea Fires ‘Unidentified Projectile’ Into Sea

North Korea fired an “unidentified projectile” from an inland area off its east coast towards the Sea of Japan on Tuesday, South Korea’s military said.

The projectile was fired around 6:40 a.m. local time, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, adding that South Korean and U.S. intelligence are analyzing the launch, reported Yonhap News Agency.

Japan’s defence ministry issued a statement saying that it appeared to be a ballistic missile.

It comes after the socialist dictatorship announced on Sept. 15 that it had launched two ballistic missiles from a train toward the Sea of Japan that struck an intended target 497 miles (800 kilometers) away. On the same day, South Korea also test fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile.

Prior to that, North Korea had tested new cruise missiles it said were capable of hitting targets 932 miles (1,500 kilometers) away, putting all of Japan and the U.S. military installations there—with a total of 80,000 U.S. troops—within striking range.

The latest reported projectile launch comes as North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations, Kim Song, urged the United States to drop what it called its hostile policy toward Pyongyang. He said that North Korea would respond “willingly at any time” to offers to talks.

“But it is our judgment that there is no prospect at the present stage for the U.S. to really withdraw its hostile policy,” Kim said.

North Korea has accused both Seoul and Washington of “double standards,” saying they denounce Pyongyang’s weapons development while continuing their own military activities.

Meanwhile, international experts have said that recent satellite images shows that North Korea is expanding a uranium enrichment plant at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex—a sign that the Kim regime is intent on boosting the production of bomb materials.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said on Sept. 25 that North Korea is willing to consider stalled inter-Korean talks on ending the 1950–53 Korean war if mutual respect between the two countries can be assured, state mouthpiece KCNA reported.

In a separate statement on Sept. 25, Kim Yo Jong asked South Korea to abandon “hostile polices” and “double-dealing standards.”

South Korea’s Unification Ministry on Sept. 26 called her statement “meaningful” but urged North Korea to restore dormant communication channels before arranging talks between the rivals. North Korea hasn’t responded.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.