By Song Sang-ho and Kang Yoon-seung

SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) — North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into the East Sea on Sunday, the South Korean military said, in the recalcitrant regime’s seventh show of force this year.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced the launch in a text message sent to journalists. He did not give more details.

Pyongyang has been ratcheting up tensions with a series of missile launches since early this year as Washington has ratcheted up sanctions pressure amid a prolonged stalemate in nuclear talks between the two countries.

North Korea fired what it says are surface-to-surface tactical guided missiles on Thursday, just two days after its apparent long-range cruise missile test.

North Korea has carried out four other launches this month, including self-proclaimed hypersonic missiles on January 5 and 11.

The North’s recent saber rattling attacks also come as it seeks to bolster internal unity amid the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and lingering economic problems stemming from debilitating sanctions.