North Korea fired an unidentified projectile Friday, according to South Korean and Japanese officials, marking the country's third suspected weapons test in less than a week.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea stated that North Korea launched an unidentified projectile, but did not elaborate.

A stronger and certain reaction

In a statement, North Korea threatened a “stronger and certain reaction” if the United States imposed more sanctions on the country, according to North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency.

“If the United States continues to take a confrontational stance, North Korea will be forced to take stronger and more specific retaliatory measures,” the statement added.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry has also condemned the United States' proposal to the United Nations Security Council to impose new sanctions on North Korea in response to its six ballistic and other missile tests since September 2021.

The big picture

US has imposed sanctions on five North Koreans on Wednesday for their alleged roles in obtaining equipment and technology for the the DPRK's missile programs, and also stated that it would seek new UN sanctions.

The North Korean spokesperson accused the US of maintaining a "gangster-like" stance, stressing that the new missile was developed as part of its efforts to modernize its military and did not target any specific country or threaten the security of its neighbors.

North Korea announced in 2022 that it had successfully conducted a series of missile tests, including the launch of a "new type" ballistic missile from a submarine, a long-range cruise missile, and a hypersonic missile.