N. Korea neighbors report missiles

FILE - In this March 2, 2019, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un attends a wreath-laying ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Kim's sister said Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, North Korea is willing to resume talks with South Korea if it lifts hostility on her country. (Jorge Silva/Pool Photo via AP, File)
FILE - In this March 2, 2019, file photo, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un attends a wreath-laying ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Kim's sister said Friday, Sept. 24, 2021, North Korea is willing to resume talks with South Korea if it lifts hostility on her country. (Jorge Silva/Pool Photo via AP, File)

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea on Tuesday fired a suspected ballistic missile into the sea, Seoul and Tokyo officials said, the latest in a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang that raised questions about the sincerity of its recent offer for talks with South Korea.

Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that "an unidentified projectile" fired from an inland location in North Korea flew toward the country's eastern sea Tuesday morning. It said South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities were analyzing details of the launch.

Japan's Defense Ministry said North Korea fired a possible ballistic missile but gave no further details.

Earlier this month, North Korea performed tests of ballistic and cruise missiles in its first such launches in six months, displaying an ability to attack South Korea and Japan, key U.S. allies where a total of 80,000 American troops are stationed.

But last Friday and Saturday, Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reached out to Seoul, saying it's open to resuming talks and reconciliatory steps if conditions are met. Some experts said North Korea wants South Korea to play a role in winning relief from U.S.-led sanctions or other concessions. In her second statement Saturday, Kim Yo Jong asked South Korea to abandon "hostile polices" and "double-dealing standards."

On Sunday, South Korea's Unification Ministry called her statement "meaningful" but urged North Korea to restore dormant communication channels before arranging talks between the rivals. North Korea hasn't responded.

U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed hopes to sit down for talks with North Korea but have also made it clear they will maintain sanctions until the North takes concrete steps toward denuclearization.

A U.S.-led diplomatic effort aimed at convincing North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits remains stalled after 2½ years, with U.S. sanctions a main sticking point.

Kim Jong Un has said he will bolster his nuclear arsenal and introduce more sophisticated weapons if the United States doesn't drop "hostile policies" on the North, an apparent reference to the sanctions. Despite his recent missile tests, Kim still maintains a moratorium on testing longer-range weapons capable of reaching the American homeland, a suggestion that it wants to keep alive the chances for diplomacy with the U.S.

North Korea's fragile economy has suffered a huge recent setback because of a combination of the coronavirus pandemic, the sanctions and natural disasters. Kim has said his country faces "the worst-ever" crisis.

Information for this article was contributed by Mari Yamaguchi of The Associated Press.

South Korean army soldiers patrol along the barbed-wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Saturday that her country will take steps to repair ties with South Korea, and may even discuss another summit between their leaders, if the South drops what she described as hostility and double standards. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
South Korean army soldiers patrol along the barbed-wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Saturday that her country will take steps to repair ties with South Korea, and may even discuss another summit between their leaders, if the South drops what she described as hostility and double standards. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Military guard posts of North Korea, rear, and South Korea, bottom, are seen in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea, Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, said Friday, North Korea is willing to resume talks with South Korea if it doesn’t provoke the North with hostile policies and double standards.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Military guard posts of North Korea, rear, and South Korea, bottom, are seen in Paju, near the border with North Korea, South Korea, Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, said Friday, North Korea is willing to resume talks with South Korea if it doesn’t provoke the North with hostile policies and double standards.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

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