North Korea launches a ballistic missile from its east coast, according to South Korea

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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has launched a ballistic missile from its eastern coast, South Korea said Sunday.

The South Korean General Staff reported the launch, but initially did not give details such as how far the projectile had traveled.

The launch came a few days after North Korea launched a series of artillery shells near the tense maritime border with South Korea, prompting Seoul to conduct similar firing exercises in that area.

At a key ruling party meeting in late December, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal and launch more spy satellites to deal with what he described as confrontational maneuvers led by the United States.