North Korea test-fired another ballistic missile on Sunday that flew about 500 kilometers, despite repeated international warnings against Pyongyang not to continue with military provocations.

Japan's top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said at a hastily called press conference the missile was launched at 4:59 p.m. Japan time and is believed to have fallen into the sea outside its exclusive economic zone.

South Korea's military said it was fired from a site in the vicinity of Pukchang in South Pyeongan Province.

Japanese and South Korean officials said they are working to determine the type of missile and other details, but added it appeared to not be an intercontinental ballistic missile.

U.S. officials said the missile is the same type tested in February, a medium long-range Pukguksong-2 which also flew about 500 km before plunging in the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan.

Japan and South Korea both swiftly convened national security council meetings.

Suga said no damage had been reported, adding the Japanese government had already issued a protest to North Korea through diplomatic channels.

The latest launch came just a week after North Korea tested what it called a new type of ground-to-ground medium- to long-range ballistic missile that flew nearly 800 km.

 North Korea fires ballistic missile

Describing the test on May 14 as successful, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned the United States not to "disregard or misjudge" its military capability.

The U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has been stepping up pressure on North Korea along with its regional allies and partners, suggesting even harsher sanctions be imposed on Pyongyang if it does not change course.

Still, there are no signs of Kim's regime abandoning its nuclear and missile development programs.

The U.N. Security Council again "strongly condemned" North Korea last week, following the test on May 14 of a ground-to-ground missile called the Hwasong-12, seen by some experts as the most significant progress in its quest to build a nuclear-tipped ICBM to date.

But, in response, North Korea said it "categorically and totally rejects" the U.N. denunciation, insisting that its pursuit of weapons technologies is the legitimate exercise of its right to self-defense and necessary to counter what it calls U.S. threats.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered the government to collect necessary information as quickly as possible, ensure the safety of airplanes and ships, and take appropriate steps to prepare for other contingencies, according to Suga.

 North Korea fires ballistic missile