"The military detected a ballistic missile fired from a site near Pyongyang at about 7:10 a.m. (2210 GMT) this morning. We suspect that it is an ICBM launched at a high angle," the JCS said.
"The military has heightened its alert level and is maintaining a fully prepared posture, closely sharing information with U.S. and Japanese authorities regarding North Korea's ballistic missile," it added.
This test launch is Pyongyang's first in 43 days, following the Sept. 18 launch of a Hwasong-11da-4.5, a ballistic missile with a super-large 4.5-ton warhead, and a cruise missile.