Report: North Korea fires projectile into sea

A man watches a TV news program showing a file footage of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 1, 2016. North Korea fired a short-range missile into the sea on Friday, Seoul officials said, hours after the U.S., South Korean and Japanese leaders warned the North it will face tougher sanctions if it continues with provocations. The Korean letters at bottom read: "Analysis, the surface-to-air missile." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

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U.S. Army's armored vehicle moves during the annual exercise in Paju, near the border with North Korea, Friday, April 1, 2016. North Korea fired a short-range missile into the sea on Friday, Seoul officials said, hours after the U.S., South Korean and Japanese leaders pledged to work closer together to prevent North Korea from advancing its nuclear and missile programs. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

U.S. Army soldiers conduct the annual exercise in Paju, near the border with North Korea, Friday, April 1, 2016. North Korea fired a short-range missile into the sea on Friday, Seoul officials said, hours after the U.S., South Korean and Japanese leaders pledged to work closer together to prevent North Korea from advancing its nuclear and missile programs.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (The Associated Press)

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea's Yonhap news agency says North Korea has fired a projectile into the sea.

Yonhap, citing an unidentified military official, said the projectile believed to be a ballistic missile flew into waters off the North's east coast on Friday. It has no further details.

South Korea's Defense Ministry says it cannot confirm the Yonhap report.

The launch, if confirmed, is the latest in a series of weapons launches the North has carried out in an apparent response to ongoing military exercises between the United States and South Korea.

North Korea views the drills as an invasion rehearsal.