North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Tuesday, its second such launch in under a week, as the United States and South Korea prepare for joint military drills. Japan's prime minister's office confirmed the launch, and the US military said it was monitoring the situation, though it assessed the missile posed no immediate threat and was consulting closely with allies. The repeated tests underscore continuing tension on the Korean peninsula ahead of the allied exercises, which Pyongyang has historically viewed as provocative.

Specific details about the missile remain limited, with its trajectory, range and landing point not immediately available. The launch follows a pattern of North Korean weapons tests coinciding with periods of heightened regional or global tension, including recent US involvement in conflict with Iran, and comes as Washington and Seoul finalise plans for their upcoming joint drills.