North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast on Saturday, South Korea and Japan said. The launch came a day after Pyongyang rejected Seoul’s demand for an apology over border mine blasts.

South Korea’s military said the missile was launched from the Wonsan area at around 6:30 am local time. It flew more than 700 kilometres before falling into the sea. Japan’s defence ministry said it landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. No damage was reported.

Seoul and Washington are analysing the weapon’s type. One scenario under review is an intermediate-range ballistic missile fired at a reduced distance.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said the North had tested an intermediate-range strategic missile. She claimed the differing flight data reported by South Korea and Japan proved they could not track it properly.

The launch followed a September 21 mine explosion in the Demilitarised Zone that wounded South Korean soldiers. Seoul blamed North Korean mines; Pyongyang denied it and rejected the apology demand.

South Korea’s national security council held an emergency meeting on Saturday. The North has now launched missiles more than 10 times this year.