North Korea has launched an unidentified shell in the direction of the Sea of Japan, the Japanese Coast Guard said, RIA Novosti reported.         

It is said that the projectile has already fallen. Ships now at sea have been advised to exercise caution and not to approach suspicious objects in case they are detected.

According to the NHK TV channel, a crisis headquarters has been created under the office of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The channel reported that the representatives of the responsible agencies are holding an emergency meeting at the crisis headquarters formed at the prime minister's office to gather information and confirm possible damage.

This is the seventh test of North Korean weapons this year.