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A missile is launched by North Korea in this undated photo. (Yonhap)

North Korea launched a ballistic missile “at the intermediate range or higher” over the East Sea on Thursday.

The latest launch comes 17 days after two short-range ballistic missiles were fired from Chunghwa in North Hwanghae Province on March 27. The use of the description “ballistic missile at the intermediate range or higher” raises the possibility that the projectile in question may have been an intercontinental ballistic missile.

In a text message sent to its press corps that morning, the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that the South Korean military “detected a ballistic missile at the intermediate range or higher that was fired over the East Sea from the vicinity of Pyongyang at approximately 0723 hours on the morning of April 13.”

“Our military has reinforced its monitoring and alert and is maintaining a full readiness posture while coordinating closely with the US,” it added.

The military is currently analyzing the missile’s specifics, including the model and range. Based on flight distance, ballistic missiles are classified into four types: short-range ballistic missiles (300–1,000 km), medium-range ballistic missiles (1,000–3,000 km), intermediate-range ballistic missiles (3,000–5,500 km), and intercontinental ballistic missiles (5,500km+).

The latest launch appeared to be a response to recent activities including large-scale South Korea-US joint military exercises, the deployment of US strategic assets to the peninsula, and South Korea’s publication of a report on the North Korean human rights situation.

By Shin Hyeong-cheol, staff reporter

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