According to the South Korean military, North Korea has fired at least one initially unidentified projectile into the sea.

The bullet flew in the direction of the Sea of ​​Japan (Korean: East Sea), the General Staff said on Wednesday.

According to the Japanese Coast Guard, it could be a ballistic missile.

The latest downing comes just days before new South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took office, who has vowed a tougher stance on the north.

Last week, North Korea's ruler Kim Jong-un also warned that he could use his nuclear forces "preemptively" to ward off enemy forces.

North Korea is subject to strict international sanctions over its missile and nuclear weapons program.

Denuclearization talks with the United States and South Korea about nuclear disarmament have long been on hold.

UN resolutions ban North Korea from testing such missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.

In recent months, North Korea has carried out multiple missile tests and also launched an ICBM.

Pyongyang has been developing missiles that could be armed with nuclear warheads for years.