N. Korea Fires Ballistic Missile towards Sea of Japan

On Saturday, North Korea fired an ICBM-class missile that likely fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone off its northern territory in the first such test by Pyongyang in three months, according to the Japanese government.

Japan's Defense Ministry said the ICBM was launched at around 5:21 p.m. From the outskirts of Pyongyang and fell into the Sea of Japan, 200 km west of Hokkaido in the north of the country.

The missile flew for 66 minutes and travelled almost 900 km on an elevated trajectory, reaching an altitude of 5,700 km. The ministry reported that there were no reports of damage to aircraft or ships.

"The launch this time around is an outrageous act that escalates provocations against the international community," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.

South Korea's presidential National Security Council condemned the missile launch, describing it as a "serious violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a serious provocation that will increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region."

The US Indo-Pacific Command also condemned this action, and called on North Korea to "refrain from any further illegal and destabilizing actions."

The latest launch came a day after Pyongyang denounced the US and South Korea's plan to hold tabletop exercises next Wednesday, as well as another round of joint military exercises in March.

North Korea has warned that the two countries will face "unprecedentedly strong and sustained counteractions," according to state-run media.

Pyongyang also criticized the UN Security Council for not addressing the bilateral military demonstrations by Washington and Seoul.