South Korea's military said North Korea on Friday launched a ballistic missile into the sea off its east coast, calling on Pyongyang to immediately stop its military "provocations".

For its part, the Japanese Coast Guard confirmed that it detected the launch of what it believes to be a ballistic missile by North Korea.

Japan's Nippon TV reported that the missile landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The launch is the latest in a series of missile tests of an unprecedented number that Pyongyang has conducted this year.

North Korea fired two medium-range ballistic missiles off its east coast last Sunday, describing it as an "important" test for the development of a spy satellite program that is due to be completed by next April.

North Korea also conducted a record number of missile tests this year, the most recent of which was the "most advanced" intercontinental ballistic missile launch last November.

The United States and South Korea have been warning for months that Pyongyang is preparing to conduct its seventh nuclear test.


Joint maneuvers

Last Tuesday, the two countries organized joint air maneuvers with the deployment of the American B-52H strategic bomber over the Korean Peninsula, according to a statement issued by the South Korean Army Staff.

This long-range bomber was part of a training that included the latest American and South Korean fighters, including the F-22 and F-35.

The new experience also comes after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced yesterday, Thursday, that his country will seek China's help in persuading North Korea to hold talks after its series of missile tests led to an escalation of tensions in the region.

Blinken, who plans to visit Beijing early next year, the first by a US secretary of state in four years, said he would discuss with China how to "try to convince North Korea to take a different approach."