North Korea launches possible ballistic missile as US-South Korea drills ongoing

LONDON -- North Korea fired an unidentified projectile in an eastward direction on Thursday, according to a statement released by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff and quoted by the country's Yonhap News Agency.

The JCS said it detected the launch but did not provide any further details.

Japan's Defense Ministry said the projectile appeared to be a ballistic missile and that the munition fell outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The latest North Korean missile launch comes as U.S.-South Korean military drills -- Ulchi Freedom Shield -- are ongoing on the peninsula, though the drills are expected to end early on Friday following an order from President Donald Trump to "substantially reduce" the annual exercise.

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Trump cited his "very good" relationship with North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un when announcing the decision, and on Wednesday said he plans to meet with Kim later this year.

North Korea has criticized the drills as an "open threat" and threatened a strong response against both the U.S. and South Korea.

Pyongyang has maintained a steady rhythm of ballistic missile tests in recent years, despite U.S. and international condemnation. Thursday's launch came around a week after Pyongyang fired a short-range ballistic missile off its east coast on Aug. 12.

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti and Anthony Trotter contributed to this report.