North Korea fires ballistic missile off east coast, Japan says

Seol/Tokyo: North Korea launched what appeared to be a ballistic missile into the sea to the east of the Korean Peninsula on Sunday, Japan's defence ministry said.

South Korea's defence ministry said the rival North had fired an unidentified projectile. Japanese public broadcaster NHK said it had come down outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

South Korea, Japan and US to hold North Korea-focused nuclear missile drillA day earlier, North Korea dismissed a resolution by the UN nuclear watchdog against Pyongyang's nuclear programme, in a statement read out on state media.