U . S . Pacific Command identifies N . K . projectile as KN - 15 medium - range ballistic missile WASHINGTON , April 4 ( Yonhap ) -- The ballistic missile North Korea recently fired is believed to be " a KN - 15 medium range ballistic missile , " the U . S . military said Tuesday . " The U . S . Pacific Command detected and tracked what we assess was a North Korean missile launch " at 6 : 42 Korea time , Cdr . Dave Benham , a spokesman for the command , said in a statement . " The launch of a single ballistic missile occurred at a land - based facility near Sinpo . " The missile was tracked until it landed in the East Sea at 6 : 51 a . m . , he said . " Initial assessments indicate the type of missile was a KN - 15 medium range ballistic missile , " the spokesman said . " U . S . Pacific Command is fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain security . " In Seoul , South Korea ' s Joint Chiefs of Command said that the missile flew about 60 kilometers . The latest missile launch came ahead of summit talks between U . S . President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping later this week . jschang @ yna . co . kr ( END )