North Korea has reportedly launched a ballistic missile toward its eastern waters as tensions continue to rise with neighbouring South Korea.

The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch had taken place on Monday local time (Sunday evening in the UK).

No further details were released on how far the weapon travelled.

The latest launch came just two days after South Korea, Japan and the US ended new multi-domain, trilateral drills that North Korea slammed as a provocation.

The launch is the North’s first weapons firing in five days.

Last Wednesday, North Korea launched what it called a multi-warhead missile in the first known launch of a developmental, advanced weapon meant to defeat US and South Korean missile defences.

North Korea said the launch was successful, but South Korea dismissed the North’s claim as deception to cover up a failed launch.

The South Korea-US-Japanese Freedom Edge drill drew a US aircraft carrier and destroyers, fighter jets and helicopters from the three countries.