Japan says North Korea launched a suspected ballistic missile towards the sea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (Korean Central News Agency/AP)

North Korea launched a suspected missile toward the sea on Sunday, its neighbours said, as the North ramps up testing activities in response to US-South Korean military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal.

Japan’s Defence Ministry and coast guard said what appeared to be a North Korean missile was fired Sunday morning. They gave no further details.