North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast on Wednesday, August 12, South Korea’s military said, marking the country’s second such weapons test in less than a week. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area at around 6 AM local time. Japan’s Defense Ministry also detected the suspected launch.

The missile appeared to have landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, NHK reported. Japan said it did not detect the weapon reaching its exclusive economic zone, suggesting it fell farther from the Japanese coast.

South Korea said it had increased surveillance and was maintaining readiness for possible additional launches while closely sharing information with the United States and Japan.

The launch comes days before South Korea and the United States are scheduled to begin major joint military exercises on August 17.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield drills are set to run for 11 days through August 27, with about 18,000 South Korean soldiers expected to participate. The exercises are aimed at strengthening readiness against North Korean threats.

North Korea has repeatedly condemned South Korea-US military exercises as provocations and has previously responded to major drills with weapons tests and harsh rhetoric. Pyongyang describes the exercises as rehearsals for an invasion, while Seoul and Washington say they are defensive in nature.

On August 6, South Korea, the United States, and Japan detected the launch of a short-range ballistic missile from North Korea. That was the North’s first reported ballistic weapons test since late June.

North Korea has conducted a series of weapons tests this year, including short-range ballistic missiles, artillery rockets, and other tactical weapons.

The latest launch also follows North Korean state media’s criticism of Japan’s latest defense white paper, which Pyongyang accused of using an unfounded portrayal of North Korea as a security threat to justify an arms buildup.