National Security Office: "North Korea's Missile Launch, Provocation Threatening International Peace and Security...Strong Condemnation" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Office's National Security Office on the 12th criticized North Korea's short-range ballistic missile launch over the East Sea, stating, "We point out that this is a provocative act that escalates tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and seriously threatens international peace and security, and we strongly condemn it."

The National Security Office announced in the afternoon, "Under the chairmanship of National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han, a security situation review meeting was held at the Presidential Office Crisis Management Center. We received a report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff on North Korea's ballistic missile launch trends, checked the combined readiness posture of our military and the U.S., and discussed future response measures."

Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that at around 6:29 p.m. on the same day, North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang Sunan area toward the East Sea. The specific specifications of the three ballistic missiles are currently being analyzed by South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles launched by North Korea on this day were detected to have a flight distance of approximately 360 km, an apogee of about 90 km, and a speed of Mach 5 (about 1.7 km per second).

This ballistic missile launch by North Korea comes five days after the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launch on the 7th. It is the first provocation since the inauguration of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the 16th military demonstration this year.

In response, the Presidential Office issued a press release at 7:09 p.m. on the same day, stating, "Regarding North Korea's missile launch, a review meeting at the National Security Office level, chaired by the National Security Office Director, will be held immediately."

The spokesperson's office explained that although the review meeting is chaired by the National Security Office Director, just like the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC), the two are different.

Despite North Korea acknowledging the occurrence of COVID-19 cases and switching to an emergency quarantine system, the fact that North Korea proceeded with a military provocation is interpreted as an intention to show that weapons development takes precedence over any other policy projects. Furthermore, since President Yoon mentioned strengthening South Korea-U.S. relations upon his inauguration, this is also seen as a measure to pressure both countries.

The National Security Office stated, "The government will maintain a firm and flawless readiness posture while continuing close cooperation with the international community," and "We also deplore North Korea's double standards in ignoring the lives and safety of its people while continuing ballistic missile provocations despite the occurrence of COVID-19."

It further emphasized, "The government will take substantial and strict measures based on an objective assessment of the security situation rather than showy responses to North Korea's provocations."

Attending the security situation review meeting held that day were National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han, First Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo, Second Deputy Director Shin In-ho, and secretaries for security strategy, diplomacy, unification, and defense.