North Korea has fired off an unidentified projectile toward the East Sea, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff(JCS) on Thursday.

In a text message to reporters, the JCS said the projectile was fired at around 2:38 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.

The military is analyzing details of the launch such as travel distance, trajectory and altitude.

The projectile is suspected to be a ballistic missile. as authorities have been quick to alert the media of such launches in similar past cases.

The latest test fire comes four days after the North fired four shots using multiple rocket launchers toward the West Sea from Sukchon, South Pyongan Province on Sunday morning. It is the regime's 12th provocation this year.

[Photo : YONHAP News]