People in Seoul, South Korea, watch on TV North Korea's missile launch, March 5, 2022. Photo: AFP/VNA

According to the South Korean military, the ballistic missile that North Korea launched on Saturday morning flew about 270 km at an altitude of 560 km, towards the east coast of the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea's special envoy for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, Noh Kyu-duk, and his US counterpart Sung Kim, said Pyongyang’s repeated missile launches are a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The two sides agreed to maintain a solid defense posture and strengthen close consultations to prevent North Korea from aggravating the situation in the region.

This has been North Korea's ninth launch in 2022, taking place just four days before the South Korean presidential election.