Japan's defence ministry also confirmed that North Korea appeared to have fired a ballistic missile.North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile towards waters off its east coast on Thursday, according to South Korea's military, marking the latest in a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang this year.South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the missile was launched from the eastern coastal city of Wonsan at around 5 pm local time. The military did not immediately provide details on the missile's range or flight path but said it had strengthened its surveillance posture and was closely coordinating with the United States and Japan.Japan's Defence Ministry also confirmed that North Korea appeared to have fired a ballistic missile. It added that there were no reports of any impact in or around Japanese territory.The launch comes as North Korea continues to expand its nuclear and missile programmes following the collapse of denuclearisation talks between leader Kim Jong Un and then-US President Donald Trump in 2019. Analysts say Kim is seeking international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear weapons state in the hope of securing relief from international sanctions.Pyongyang has also been increasing its focus on strengthening its naval capabilities. Last month, Kim oversaw tests of a nuclear-capable cruise missile and other weapons from a newly built 5,000-tonne destroyer. In addition to advancing its ballistic missile programme, North Korea is developing a nuclear-powered submarine and has outlined plans for submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles.