(VOVworld) – North Korea fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) off its east coast on Wednesday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watching the launch of a missile. (Photo: Reuters/VNA)

According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was fired in the waters off South Hamgyong Province at around 5:30AM local time.

The news came amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula resulting from a joint military exercise between the US and South Korea, which North Korea condemned as provocation, North Korea threatened to launch "pre-emptive nuclear strike" in retaliation.