( LEAD ) S . Korea warns N . K . ' s continued provocations will quicken ' self - destruction '( ATTN : ADDS reaction from S . Korea ' s unification ministry in paras 6 - 7 ) SEOUL , April 5 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea condemned North Korea for its continued missile provocations on Wednesday , warning it would lead to toughened sanctions and eventually accelerate the " self - destruction " of the regime . The North fired off a ballistic missile earlier in the day into the East Sea from a site in the vicinity of Sinpo , South Hamgyong Province . This marked its fourth missile test using ballistic technology this year . " Our government strongly condemns this ( latest missile test ) in that it is an outright challenge to a series of U . N . Security Council resolutions and an act that poses a threat to peace and security not just on the Korean Peninsula but also to the whole world , " the foreign ministry said . " The North Korean regime should squarely see that these reckless provocations along with the recent assassination of Kim Jong - nam with a chemical weapon would strengthen the push for sanctions and punitive measures and eventually accelerate its path toward self - destruction , " it added . The ministry said that the government will keep working to increase global coordination through the UNSC against the North ' s repeated provocations and vowed to do its best to protect the lives of its people and national security based on the strong alliance with the U . S . and unwavering military readiness . Seoul ' s unification ministry called for North Korea to refrain from making provocative acts . " North Korea ' s provocation does not help resolve ( Pyongyang ' s nuclear and missile problems ) , " Lee Duk - haeng , ministry spokesman , told a regular press briefing . " We are calling for North Korea ' s restraint as its provocation is posing a threat to peace and stability in the world and will put the North itself in hot water . " The presidential office also convened an emergency National Security Council ( NSC ) meeting to discuss the latest missile test and possible additional provocations including a nuclear test going forward . " We will strongly deal with any additional provocation down the road , " the office said . The latest missile test came amid concerns that the North may carry out another nuclear test or long - range missile launch . It also came days ahead of the upcoming summit talks between U . S . President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping scheduled for later this week . Experts see the Wednesday missile provocation as a show of force and an attempt to set the tone for the first summit between the leaders of the world ' s two most powerful countries , amid expectations the North ' s nuclear issue will be among the top agenda items to be discussed . kokobj @ yna . co . kr ( END )