North Korea: North Korea launched a ballistic missile off its east coast

North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the North's eastern waters on Monday, the South Korean military said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch took place Monday morning but gave no other details, including how far the weapon traveled.

The launch came two days after South Korea, the United States and Japan ended their new trilateral multi-domain exercises that North Korea calls a provocation.

It was the first North Korean weapons launch in five days. Last Wednesday, North Korea launched what it called a multiple-warhead missile, the first known launch of an advanced weapon under development designed to defeat U.S. and South Korean missile defenses. North Korea said the launch was successful, but South Korea dismissed the North's claims as a hoax to cover up a failed launch.

The “Freedom Edge” exercise between South Korea, the United States and Japan drew a U.S. aircraft carrier, destroyers, fighter jets and helicopters from the three countries. The training included missile defense, anti-submarine and maritime interdiction exercises.

In recent weeks, North Korea has launched numerous balloons carrying trash toward South Korea in what it has described as a tit-for-tat response to South Korean activists sending political leaflets via their own balloons.