The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) claimed that the DPRK launched a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, as Seoul wraps up its large-scale Hoguk military exercise today, which began on October 18.

It is worth noting that an unspecified number of US troops were involved in the drills. The South Korean and American air forces will also conduct large-scale training next week.

This comes following a series of US-South Korean joint drills that often also included Japan and provoked the DPRK, pushing the already-intense relationship between the two towards escalation.

Earlier on Thursday, October 13, the Yonhap news agency reported, citing South Korea's armed forces, that the DPRK has again tested a ballistic missile.

"North Korea launched a ballistic missile of an unidentified type in the direction of the Sea of Japan," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

On Friday, October 7, Pyongyang had accused Seoul of engaging in "provocative action" by "inciting military tension" near their common borders, state media reported.

According to a statement from the Korean Central News Agency, citing a spokesperson from the DPRK army, South Korea had on Thursday conducted "artillery fire for about 10 hours near the forward defense area of the KPA Fifth Corps."

The statement said that the KPA "took strong military countermeasures" in response to the "provocative action," adding that the KPA "sends a stern warning to the South Korean military inciting military tension in the frontline area with reckless action."

North Korea has conducted nine missile tests since September 25, and over 25 since the beginning of 2022. Pyongyang has stated that its test launches are carried out in response to the United States and South Korea's refusal to halt joint military exercises which threaten regional stability.

Read more: DPRK says it tested two nuclear-capable cruise missiles