KIM Jong-un has fired a "ballistic missile" towards the East Sea in North Korea's first rocket launch of 2022.
South Korea's top military leaders reported an "unidentified projectile" had been launched.
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Kim Jong-un has fired a 'ballistic missile' towards the East Sea Credit: KCNA/AP 2
It is North Korea's first missile test since October when a submarine launched ballistic missile was launched
The Japanese Coast Guard also detected the launch but was unable to identify the projectile.
It is the first missile test since the despot fired a submarine launched ballistic missile into the sea off Japan back in October.
The firing of what Pyongyang called the "world's most powerful weapon" was the latest in a chilling series of missile tests by the nuclear armed state.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the device had "lots of advanced control guidance technologies"
A proven submarine-based missile capability would take the North's arsenal to a new level.
It would allow deployment far beyond the Korean peninsula and a second-strike capability in the event of an attack on its military bases.
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North Korea last tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM, before last year's test in October 2019.
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 Korea fires ballistic missile from submarine towards Japan as streak of chilling weapons tests continues