Presidential Office Holds Security Situation Review Meeting on North Korea's Satellite Launch... "Preparing for Additional Provocations"

Discussion on Response Measures Chaired by Jang Hojin, Director of National Security Office

The Presidential Office stated on the 27th, "Our military detected North Korea's so-called 'military reconnaissance satellite' launch at around 10:44 PM," adding, "The National Security Office immediately reported the related information to the President."

Subsequently, a security situation review meeting was held under the chairmanship of Jang Ho-jin, Director of the National Security Office, where the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff provided a situation report and response measures were discussed. South Korean and U.S. authorities assessed that the projectile exploded in the air over North Korean waters after flying for several minutes.

The attendees condemned, "Despite repeated warnings from our government and the international community, North Korea launched another 'military reconnaissance satellite' following last November. Regardless of its success, this constitutes a violation of the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions and is a provocative act threatening peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast Asia, and the international community."

Additionally, our military decided to maintain a thorough security posture in preparation for potential further provocations from North Korea.

The security situation review meeting was attended by Jang Ho-jin, Director of the National Security Office; Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director; In Sung-hwan, Second Deputy Director; Kang Jae-kwon, Security Strategy Secretary; Choi Byung-ok, Defense Secretary; and Kim Sang-ho, Crisis Management Center Director.

Earlier, North Korea notified the Japanese government in the early hours of the 27th that it would launch a rocket carrying a satellite by midnight on the 4th of next month, ahead of the scheduled South Korea-Japan-China summit. Subsequently, North Korea attempted an additional military reconnaissance satellite launch on the night of the 27th but failed.