WASHINGTON, August 12. /TASS/. North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan posed no immediate threat to the United States, its personnel or allies, US Pacific Command said.

"We are aware of the recent missile launch and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. Based on current assessments, these events do not pose an immediate threat to US personnel or territory, or to our allies," the command said in a statement posted on its website.

Yonhap earlier reported, citing the South Korean military, that the DPRK had launched a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi later told reporters that the missile had flown about 690 km and landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. According to the South Korean presidential administration, the missile, launched from the Wonsan area at about 6 a.m. local time (9 p.m. GMT), traveled more than 700 km.

North Korea last launched a ballistic missile on August 6. It also landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.