Presidential Office: "North Korea's Long-Range Ballistic Missile is a Security Council Violation and a Serious Provocation"

Provocation Results Only in Severe Sanctions... Warning

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The Presidential Office strongly condemned North Korea's launch of a long-range ballistic missile as "a serious provocation that constitutes a grave violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and escalates tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region."

On the 18th, upon the military authorities detecting North Korea's long-range ballistic missile launch, the Presidential Office immediately reported the matter to President Yoon Suk-yeol. Subsequently, a National Security Council (NSC) Standing Committee meeting was held under the chairmanship of Kim Sung-han, Director of the National Security Office, to discuss response measures, and the results of this meeting were announced.

NSC attendees lamented, "In a situation where severe food shortages in North Korea are causing mass starvation, the North Korean regime is neglecting the human rights and livelihoods of its people, focusing solely on large-scale military parades and nuclear and missile development," warning that "the only outcome North Korea will gain from these provocations is harsh sanctions from the international community."

They also agreed to thoroughly implement Security Council resolutions in solidarity with the United States and the international community, and to take resolute measures against any attempts threatening our citizens. Furthermore, the Republic of Korea and the United States will practically strengthen their response capabilities through upcoming sequential exercises such as the Deterrence Strategy Committee (DSC) operational exercise (TTX), combined ROK-US exercises, and live-fire drills.

The NSC attendees also confirmed that peace on the Korean Peninsula is maintained by strong power, and based on the firm readiness of the ROK-US alliance, they will continuously enhance overwhelming response capabilities and trilateral security cooperation among the Republic of Korea, the United States, and Japan, the Presidential Office reported.

Attending the NSC Standing Committee meeting that day were Kim Sung-han, Director of the National Security Office; Kwon Young-se, Minister of Unification; Lee Jong-sup, Minister of National Defense; Cho Hyun-dong, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Kwon Chun-taek, First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service; Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office (NSC Secretariat Chief); and Lim Jong-deuk, Second Deputy Director of the National Security Office.