Anbosil Holds Security Situation Review Meeting Over North Korea's Late-Night Missile Provocation

Interpretation of Opposition to US Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine's Port Call in Jeju
Strengthening Alliances with Korean War Allies in Preparation for Additional Provocations

The Office of the President's National Security Office held an emergency security situation review meeting on the 25th immediately after North Korea carried out a surprise provocation by launching two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) at night, discussing response measures. The Office of the President plans to closely monitor the possibility of additional provocations by North Korea while engaging in veterans diplomacy, strengthening ties with UN allied countries on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement.

According to a senior official from the Office of the President, the National Security Office held a security situation review meeting early that morning, chaired by Lim Jong-deuk, the second deputy director of the National Security Office, receiving reports on the type and flight distance of the SRBMs launched by North Korea and exploring the strategic implications and response measures. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korea launched two SRBMs from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea from around 11:55 p.m. the previous day until around midnight, each flying approximately 400 km before landing in the East Sea.

The National Security Office views this North Korean provocation as a reaction to the arrival of the US Navy Los Angeles (LA)-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) USS Annapolis (SSN-760) at the Jeju Naval Base. North Korea had previously carried out a surprise missile provocation from around 3:30 a.m. to 3:46 a.m. on the 19th, following the arrival of the US strategic nuclear submarine (SSBN) USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) at the Busan Naval Operations Command. Furthermore, the North Korean leadership has repeatedly issued statements warning about the deployment of US SSBNs on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean Minister of Defense Kang Sun-nam stated on the 20th, "We remind the US military that the increased visibility of the deployment of strategic assets, including strategic nuclear submarines, may correspond to the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons as stipulated in our national nuclear force policy laws," and added, "The US military must realize that their strategic assets have entered extremely dangerous waters." Especially with the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice approaching on the 27th, and North Korea preparing a large-scale event to commemorate Victory Day, it is also observed that this is intended to strengthen internal unity and demonstrate power to the three countries of South Korea, the US, and Japan.

Considering North Korea's history of provocations around Victory Day, the Office of the President and the government are monitoring the possibility of further provocations while planning to express gratitude and strengthen friendly relations with delegations and veterans from the UN allied countries visiting to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the armistice agreement. President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold successive meetings in the afternoon at the Yongsan Presidential Office with Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, and Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand. Luxembourg, which had a population of about 200,000 at the time of dispatch, sent 100 combat troops, the highest number relative to population among the 22 participating countries. New Zealand also dispatched six naval vessels and 3,794 troops during the Korean War, and currently, the remains of 32 New Zealand war dead are interred at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will also hold an International Veterans Ministers Meeting in Busan on the afternoon of the 26th under the theme "Shared Solidarity with the International Community through the Value of Freedom." Representatives from 22 UN allied countries are expected to attend this meeting.