The Transition Team: "North Korea's ICBM-Class Ballistic Missile Launch... A Serious Provocation Threatening Security"

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is seated attending the transition committee secretariat meeting held on the morning of the 22nd at the Presidential Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Transition Committee (Transition Committee) expressed a stance of "strong condemnation" regarding North Korea's launch of a long-range ballistic missile, presumed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

In a statement released that day, the Transition Committee said, "According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff announcement, North Korea launched an ICBM-class ballistic missile around 2:34 PM today," and emphasized, "this ballistic missile launch breaks the moratorium (promise to suspend nuclear tests and ICBM test launches) that North Korea pledged in 2018."

It added, "This is a serious provocation that threatens our security by directly violating the UN Security Council resolutions," and the Transition Committee strongly condemns such provocative acts that threaten peace in Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula."

The Transition Committee stated, "Based on thorough cooperation between South Korea and the United States, we must strongly respond to North Korea's provocations in cooperation with the international community," and "We urge the UN Security Council to promptly convene an emergency meeting and take stern measures condemning North Korea's provocations."

Furthermore, it added, "The Moon Jae-in administration must devise resolute political, diplomatic, and military measures to protect the safety of the people against such threats from North Korea."

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile North Korea launched into the East Sea today is presumed to have been fired at a high angle, higher than the normal trajectory. This provocation occurred just four days after the launch of four multiple rocket launchers from Sukchon, South Pyongan Province, toward the West Sea on the morning of the 20th.