Concerns Raised Over Potential Breach of Moratorium on Medium-Range Ballistic Missile Regulations
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 30th, President Moon Jae-in chaired an emergency full meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) regarding North Korea's seventh missile launch of the new year, pointing out that North Korea's missile launch is an "act that violates the UN Security Council resolutions."
On that day, the NSC defined the missile launched by North Korea as a 'medium-range ballistic missile,' but did not label it as a 'provocation' or mention condemning the missile launch.
At 9:25 a.m. that day, President Moon convened an emergency full meeting of the NSC, received a report on the situation related to North Korea's medium-range ballistic missile launch from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Won In-chul, and checked the security situation and readiness posture.
President Moon pointed out that the situation shows a pattern similar to the tense period in 2017 when medium-range ballistic missile launches escalated to long-range ballistic missile launches, stating that it can be seen as "a challenge to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and the international community's efforts for diplomatic resolution, as well as an act that violates the UN Security Council resolutions."
He urged North Korea to "stop acts of tension escalation and pressure and respond to dialogue proposals from the Republic of Korea, the United States, and the international community," while emphasizing the need to closely monitor related developments based on the strong ROK-US alliance and to take responsive measures through close consultation between the two countries.
Furthermore, he instructed to keep related matters in mind and discuss them, noting that although North Korea has expressed willingness for dialogue and maintained a moratorium on nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches, if this is a medium-range ballistic missile launch, it can be considered as approaching the breaking point of the moratorium declaration.
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