Jeong Eui-yong: "North Korea's SLBM Can Be Defended by Our Military Capability"

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong attended the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification held at the National Assembly on the 21st, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong stated that South Korea's military has the capability to defend against North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) technology.

Minister Chung said on the 21st during the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee comprehensive audit, "It is true that we view North Korea's recent SLBM launches seriously," but added this statement.

Minister Chung stated, "The SLBM successfully developed by our government is far superior in function compared to the SLBMs launched by North Korea," and added, "I hope our citizens can confidently understand this."

In response to People's Party lawmaker Lee Tae-gyu's question on whether North Korea's recent SLBM launch constitutes a 'strategic provocation,' Minister Chung did not give a direct answer but replied, "A clear standard for strategic provocation is to judge whether it can have a very serious impact on the overall security situation of the Korean Peninsula," effectively denying it.

Minister Chung also said during the previous day's national audit, "North Korea has not conducted what we define as a strategic provocation since November 2017."