North Korea launched an “unidentified projectile” on Wednesday, but the launch appears to have failed instantly, according to Seoul, after the US said that it was beefing up missile defense in response to a record-breaking run of tests.

The failed launch would have been Pyongyang’s ninth weapon test this year, following seven missile launches and two “reconnaissance satellite” attempts.

Last week, South Korea and the United States announced that the tests were of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, called a “monster missile” by experts.

Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that North Korea fired an unknown projectile from the Sunan area around 09:30 today, but it is presumed that it failed immediately after launch.

According to South Korea’s military, the February 27 and March 5 launches were also from the Sunan area of Pyongyang. According to the Japanese media, North Korea launched a suspected ballistic missile on Wednesday, citing an anonymous defense ministry official. The ministry declined to corroborate the allegations, and there was no Coast Guard warning to nearby vessels, as is customary with a North Korean missile fire.

According to NHK, key government officials were convening at the prime minister’s office to address the issue.

Following the latest North Korean launches, the US claimed this week that it has “increased the intensity” of its missile defense systems in South Korea, as well as performed a carrier-based air demonstration in the Yellow Sea.