North Korea fires ballistic missile off its east coast, South says

North Korea has fired a ballistic missile off its east coast, South Korea's military said on Tuesday. The launch wasthe latest in a series of weapons tests as South Korea and the United States conduct their largest joint military drills in years.

Other details, including the missile's flight range, were not immediately available.

The launch comes two days after North Korea test-fired two strategic cruise missiles from a submarine, and as the United States and South Korea conduct major military drills to counter the North's growing threats.

On Monday, South Korean and American forces began 11 days of joint drills dubbed "Freedom Shield 23" ona scale not seen since 2017.

North Korea has long bristled at the allies' drills as a rehearsal for invasion.

On Sunday, North Korea said it has decided to take "important practical" war deterrence measures, noting that"war provocations of the U.S. and South Korea are reaching the red line."