North Korea conducts ballistic missile test days before US and South Korea begin drills

North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile toward the sea on Thursday

The launch came from North Korea's eastern coastal Wonsan area, detected around 5 p.m.

Japan's Defense Minister said the missile landed in waters off North Korea's east coast with no reports it reached Japanese territory

Japan lodged a protest to Pyongyang through their embassies in Beijing

Late June: North Korea tested a tactical ballistic missile with a 'special mission' warhead and other weapons · Early July: Kim supervised tests of a nuclear-capable cruise missile aboard a destroyer · June: Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pyongyang for the first time in seven years · Thursday: North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile toward the sea, detected around 5 p.m. · Thursday, after the launch: Japan lodged a protest to Pyongyang and South Korea's national security council called it a provocation · Later this month: U.S. and South Korea are to begin large-scale annual military exercises

5 p.m. detection time · 2019 year diplomacy collapsed