North Korea launched an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea on the afternoon of the 20th.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it "detected one short-range ballistic missile launched from the Wonsan area of North Korea toward the East Sea at around 3 p.m." the same day.
The missile flew about 450 kilometers, and "South Korea and the United States are conducting a detailed analysis of its precise specifications," the JCS said.
"South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities have been tracking and sharing related movements from the early stage of the launch, and also shared information on the North Korean ballistic missile with Japan," the JCS said. "Under a firm South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, the military is closely watching various movements by North Korea while maintaining the capability and posture to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation."
If the projectile is confirmed as a ballistic missile, it would be North Korea's first such launch in eight days, following one on the 12th. On that occasion, the North fired several short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea.
Confirmation would also make it North Korea's 14th ballistic missile launch this year.
