NSC Standing Committee Meeting Chaired by National Security Director... Yoon Orders "Consultation to Strengthen US Extended Deterrence Commitment"
[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] On the 4th, the security chiefs of South Korea, the United States, and Japan agreed that North Korea's launch of a medium-range ballistic missile was a serious provocation and a violation of UN Security Council resolutions, and decided to respond firmly. President Yoon Suk-yeol attended an emergency Standing Committee meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) to receive a report on the matter and review response measures.
The National Security Office held an NSC Standing Committee meeting at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the morning, chaired by National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han, regarding North Korea's medium-range ballistic missile launch. They agreed to seek various deterrence measures, including strengthening sanctions against North Korea, in cooperation with the international community based on South Korea-US coordination.
During the NSC meeting, President Yoon pointed out that North Korea's provocation clearly violated the universal principles and norms of the UN. He emphasized that North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations only serve to further strengthen security cooperation within and beyond the region, including South Korea, the US, and Japan. He also instructed consultations to enhance the US extended deterrence commitment and to raise the level of trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
The attendees condemned the missile launch as "a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions" and "a serious provocation threatening peace in the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and the international community." They added, "Ongoing provocations by North Korea cannot be tolerated and will have consequences," emphasizing, "We will seek various deterrence measures against North Korea, including strengthening sanctions, in close cooperation with the US and the international community."
There was also a phone call between the security chiefs of South Korea, the US, and Japan. A presidential office official explained, "This morning, National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han held separate phone calls with Jake Sullivan, US National Security Advisor, and Takeo Akiba, Director-General of Japan, to discuss assessments of North Korea's missile launch and future response measures." They shared the view that North Korea's medium-range ballistic missile launch was a serious provocation threatening peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia and internationally, and a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The official added, "Through close cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan, we decided to firmly respond to North Korea's provocations and strengthen international cooperation to explore various deterrence measures."
Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that at around 7:23 a.m. today, they detected one medium-range ballistic missile (IRBM) launched from the Mupeong-ri area in Jagang Province, North Korea, flying eastward over Japanese airspace. The missile's flight distance was about 4,500 km, altitude about 970 km, and speed approximately Mach 17 (17 times the speed of sound). Detailed specifications are being precisely analyzed by South Korean and US intelligence authorities.
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