North Korea fires a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile in this 2025 file photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency the following day. Yonhap

North Korea fired an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea's military said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the launch, without providing further details.

The latest launch took place about a week after Pyongyang fired a short-range ballistic missile eastward on Aug. 12.

The missile launch came as South Korea and the United States are conducting their combined military exercise this week, the duration and scope of which have been scaled down following U.S. President Donald Trump's order to reduce the drills.