(LEAD) N. Korea fires ballistic missile into East Sea

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details; MODIFIES headline)

SEOUL, July 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea launched another ballistic missile Tuesday, just a few days after the leaders of South Korea and the United States agreed to leave the door open for dialogue with the communist nation.

"North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea from the vicinity of Banghyon, North Pyongan Province, at around 9:40 a.m.," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

The North's provocation was immediately reported to President Moon Jae-in, it added.

The JCS has not released more details yet including the flight distance and the exact type of the projectile.

In talks with Moon in Washington, D.C. last week, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for the South Korean president's push for improving inter-Korean relations.

The North fired four surface-to-ship cruise missiles on June 8 in the wake of a ballistic missile launch about a week earlier.

lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)