North Korea fired an unidentified projectile towards the sea to its east on Thursday afternoon, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) said.The South Korean military is maintaining readiness while monitoring the situation, the JSC said in a statement.North Korea said on October 3 that it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile from the sea to contain external threats and bolster self-defense.The US State Department has said that it is monitoring reports of a North Korean missile launch after both Japan and South Korea said the reclusive country had fired two projectiles."We are aware of reports of a North Korean missile launch," a State Department spokesman said on Thursday. "We are continuing to monitor the situation and consulting closely with our allies in Japan and South Korea."
