North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of ​​Japan, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday, citing South Korea’s military headquarters, AFP reported.

Japan’s coast guard also reported the launch, which came as Seoul and Washington stepped up defense cooperation in the face of rising tensions between the two Koreas, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported.

According to Yonhap, the South Korean military said it was still analyzing the type of missile fired.

The launch is the latest in a series of missile tests by Pyongyang and comes less than a week after leader Kim Jong-un personally watched the launch of the country’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile, the solid-fuel Hwasong-18.

Relations between the two Koreas are currently at an all-time low, with diplomatic relations between Pyongyang and Seoul deadlocked and Kim Jong-un calling for accelerated weapons development, including tactical nuclear weapons.

In response, Seoul and Washington stepped up defense cooperation, holding major joint military exercises.

The release also came after Washington confirmed on Tuesday that a US soldier may have been captured by North Korean soldiers after deliberately crossing the fortified, heavily guarded border that separates the two Koreas.