Seoul, Aug. 12 -- North Korea conducted a suspected ballistic missile launch on Wednesday, making it the second in less than a week, which also comes amid the backdrop of a US-South Korea combined military drill which will commence next week.

While Yonhap News Agency citing South Korean military reported that Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday, the United States only referred to it as a "missile launch", the US Pacific Command issued a statement shortly after the launch.

US Pacific Command reiterated its commitment to the defence of US homeland and allies in the region and noted that the strike did not pose an immediate threat to them.

Meanwhile, Japan termed it a "suspected ballistic missile launch" b...