Seoul: N. Korea fired unidentified projectile

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korea fired an unidentified projectile Thursday, South Korea’s military said, three days after the North said its troops conducted artillery drills near its disputed sea boundary with South Korea.

A brief statement Thursday from Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff gave no further details, such as what kind of projectile was launched or where it landed.

Previous reports by South Korea about North Korean launches have turned out to be test launches of missiles, artillery pieces and other weapons. Late last month, North Korea conducted what it called a test- firing of a new “super- large” multiple rocket launcher, a day after South Korea’s military said the North fired two projectiles into its eastern waters.

Monday, North Korea said its leader, Kim Jong Un, visited a front- line islet and ordered artillery troops to practice firing near the sea boundary, the scene of several bloody naval clashes between the Koreas in past years. South Korea protested the drills, saying they violated an agreement last year aimed at lowering military animosity.

The latest launch came amid a stalemate in U. S.- led diplomacy on ending the North Korean nuclear crisis.

In recent weeks, North Korea has stepped up pressure on the United States to meet a year- end deadline set by the North to offer an initiative to salvage nuclear diplomacy.

The nuclear negotiations broke down in February when President Donald Trump rejected Kim’s demands for major sanctions relief in return for partial disarmament.