NORTH Korea has fired what could be a ballistic missile towards Japan - in its fourth launch of 2022.

       South Korea's military and Japan's coast guard reported that the North had fired an "unidentified projectile" toward the ocean off its east coast.

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       Kim Jong-un has fired a 'ballistic missile' towards the East Sea Credit: KCNA/AP 2

       Since New Year's Day, North Korea has conducted three other tests Credit: AP

       South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff didn't immediately say whether the projectile was ballistic or how far it flew.

       However Japan's Prime Ministers Office said it detected a possible ballistic missile launch from North Korea.

       Japan's Coast Guard issued a statement urging vessels traveling around the Japanese coast to watch out for falling objects but no immediate damage to vessels or aircraft were reported.

       Since New Year's Day, North Korea has conducted three other tests, an unusual frequency of weapons tests.

       Two of those launches involved single "hypersonic missiles" capable of high speeds and manoeuvring after launch, while the last, on Friday, involved a pair of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) fired from train cars.

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       It was not immediately known what kind of missile was involved in Monday's reported launch.

       The launch came after the North conducted a pair of flight tests of a purported hypersonic missile on January 5 and 11 - and also test-fired ballistic missiles from a train Friday.

       The series of launches prompted U.S. President Joe Biden's administration to impose its first sanctions against Pyongyang on Wednesday, and to call on the U.N. Security Council to blacklist several North Korean individuals and entities.

       North Korea has defended the missile tests as its sovereign right to self-defence and accused the United States of intentionally escalating the situation with new sanctions.

       North Korea has been ramping up tests in recent months of new missiles designed to overwhelm missile defenses in the region.

       Some experts say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is going back to a tried-and-true technique of pressuring the U.S. and regional neighbors with missile launches and outrageous threats before offering negotiations meant to extract concessions.

       Kim carried out a series missile tests last year, including what it is claimed are hypersonic weapons.

       Some of these tests violate strict international sanctions.

       The country is specifically prohibited by the United Nations from testing ballistic missiles as well as nuclear weapons.

       ？North Korean leader ？Kim Jong-un attended 'successful' missile test