John Bacon, and Jane Onyanga-Omara

USA TODAY

North Korea fired a projectile believed to be a short-range missile Tuesday, the nation's latest rebuke of sanctions and military exercises being conducted by the United States and South Korea.

The launch comes amid increasing tensions with Pyongyang over repeated missile tests, a nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch this year. The moves prompted new sanctions by the U.S., the United Nations and South Korea.

President Obama scheduled a meeting Thursday in Washington with South Korean President Park Geun-Hyewith and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss North Korea's ramped-up threats.

In Tuesday's incident, the projectile was fired from the coastal city of Wonsan and traveled more than 120 miles before hitting land, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"Given the trajectory and distance traveled, the military suspects the projectile might be North Korea's new multiple rocket launcher system," Yonhap reported. Pyongyang recently claimed the system allows it to destroy the presidential palace in Seoul "at a moment's notice."

Reuters, citing military officials, reported that the projectile appeared to be a short-range missile. The State Department said it was aware of the reports.

"North Korea should refrain from actions and rhetoric that raise tensions in the region and comply with its international obligations and commitments," State Department spokesperson Pooja Jhunjhunwala told USA TODAY. "U.N. Security Council resolutions require North Korea to suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program and to abandon abandon its ballistic missile program in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."

North Korea propaganda video depicts nuclear attack on Washington

North Korea fires short-range missiles into sea

On Saturday, North Korea released a propaganda video called "Last Chance" that depicts a nuclear strike on Washington.

The video was posted to the YouTube channel of D.P.R.K. Today, a North Korean website, and includes a catalog of "humiliating defeats" the U.S. has faced at the hands of Pyongyang, including the capture of the USS Pueblo in 1968.

On March 21, North Korea fired five short-range ballistic missiles from a site near the northeastern city of Hamhung. The missiles flew about 125 miles before landing in waters off North Korea’s east coast, the the Pentagon said.

The launches were an apparent rebuke of the most recent sanctions and joint military exercises underway between the United States and South Korea. The sanctions were issued in response to a nuclear test conducted by the North in January.