SEOUL: North Korea on Thursday fired a short-range ballistic missile toward the Yellow Sea, located between China and the Korean Peninsula, South Korea’s military said.

The launch follows a statement on Tuesday by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, that any move to shoot down one of North Korea’s test missiles would be considered a declaration of war.

The missile was fired at about 6:20 p.m. (0920 GMT) from around Nampo, North Korea, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

North Korea warns US against intercepting missiles during tests

On Tuesday, North Korea blamed a joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea for growing tensions, state media KCNA said.

The United States and South Korea will conduct large-scale military exercises known as the “Freedom Shield” drills starting next week.