Japan's Kishida convenes NSC over North Korean missile provocations: "Security threat, absolutely unacceptable"

Kishida Discusses Response with Defense and Foreign Ministers
Chief Cabinet Secretary: "Possible Additional Provocations by North Korea
Some Missiles Crossing NLL Heighten Tensions" Criticism

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launch into the East Sea on the 2nd as an absolutely unacceptable act and held a National Security Council (NSC) meeting to discuss response measures.

According to NHK, Prime Minister Kishida told reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence that morning, "Missile launches are being repeated at an unprecedentedly high frequency," adding, "This is a threat to Japan's security and a disruption to international peace and safety, which we absolutely cannot tolerate."

Later, around 11 a.m., Kishida held an NSC meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence with Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu and Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa to discuss related responses.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu held a regular press conference that day and said, "At the NSC, we consolidated information on how tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula are escalating based on North Korea's missile launch information," adding, "The Japanese government believes there is a possibility that North Korea will carry out additional provocations such as nuclear tests."

He also stated, "In particular, some missiles flew beyond the Northern Limit Line (NLL) today, which significantly raises tensions in the region," and added, "We will work closely with the United States to fully commit to intelligence gathering, vigilance, and surveillance."

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the Wonsan area in Gangwon Province at around 8:51 a.m. that day, with one of them landing in international waters south of the NLL.

This marks the 29th missile provocation by North Korea this year, with 26 ballistic missile launches and 3 cruise missiles fired. However, this is the first time this year that North Korea has launched ballistic missiles southward, including toward Ulleungdo.