This comes two months after North Korea claimed to have tested engines for a new missile capable of striking distant U.S. targets in the region.

The missile, the first launched by North Korea this year, was detected by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff in the North's capital region on Sunday afternoon. It traveled approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

South Korea's military expressed concerns over the launch, describing it as a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula. The country's readiness to respond to any provocations by North Korea remains strong.

Experts suggest that North Korea's missile tests could be a strategic move to influence the upcoming parliamentary elections in South Korea in April, as well as the U.S. presidential election in November.

The assessment from South Korea indicates that the missile launched might be a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, using solid-fuel engines that the North claimed to have tested in November. These missiles are designed to potentially target U.S. military bases in Guam, a U.S. Pacific territory, and can also be used to attack U.S. military installations on Japan's Okinawa island.

While Japan's Defense Ministry stated that the missile traveled at least 500 kilometers (300 miles) at a maximum altitude of 50 kilometers (30 miles), suggesting it may have been a short-range missile, there is a discrepancy in the data between Japan and South Korea.

In response to the launch, senior diplomats from South Korea, the U.S., and Japan held a trilateral call, condemning North Korea's actions and emphasizing the strengthening of their security cooperation.

It is worth noting that North Korea has been escalating its warlike rhetoric in recent days, with leader Kim Jong Un referring to South Korea as the "principal enemy" and threatening annihilation if provoked. Experts believe that Kim aims to see South Korean liberals win the upcoming elections and hopes for the reelection of former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he may perceive as more open to negotiations.

Since the breakdown of high-stakes diplomacy with Trump in 2019, Kim has been actively expanding North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities. Additionally, there have been reports of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, with recent allegations that North Korean missiles provided to Russia were used in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

As tensions continue to rise, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is set to visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday, further indicating the deepening ties between the two countries.

The international community remains concerned about the escalating situation on the Korean Peninsula and its potential impact on global security.