North Korea Missile Issue Discussed at Blue House NSC Standing Committee: "Promptly Starting Dialogue Is Crucial" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 17th, from 9:50 AM to 10:40 AM, the government held an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) Standing Committee to discuss response measures related to North Korea's missile activities.

The NSC Standing Committee members received a briefing on the situation and the military's readiness from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Won In-chul, and then reviewed the security situation.

First, under close cooperation between South Korea and the United States, they decided to conduct a detailed analysis of the specifications of the launched projectiles, while closely monitoring North Korea's subsequent related movements and considering necessary measures.

Additionally, they held an in-depth discussion on the background and implications of the regrettable situation in which North Korea has consecutively launched missiles four times this year.

The Standing Committee members also emphasized that, above all, promptly initiating dialogue is crucial to prevent further deterioration of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and to restore stability, and agreed to intensify related efforts with North Korea and other relevant countries to this end.

Today's Standing Committee meeting was attended by National Security Office Director Suh Hoon, Presidential Chief of Staff Yoo Young-min, Minister of Unification Lee In-young, Minister of National Defense Suh Wook, Director of the National Intelligence Service Park Jie-won, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Koo Yun-cheol, First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-geun, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Won In-chul, and First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Seo Joo-seok.

Meanwhile, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that they detected two projectiles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles launched eastward from the Sunan Airfield area in Pyongyang on the same day. The specifications of the missiles are currently under analysis.