Presidential Office "Closely Monitoring North Korea's Provocative Moves... Maintaining Thorough Preparedness" (Comprehensive)

Discussion on Measures at Security Review Meeting over Missile Provocation
"Stern Warning... Urgent Call to Immediately Halt Provocative Actions"

On the 12th, the Deputy Chiefs of the National Security Office are seen conversing at the Police Commissioner Appointment Ceremony held at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office stated on the 18th regarding North Korea's short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launch, "The government is closely monitoring North Korea's provocative movements and is maintaining a thorough readiness posture to protect the lives and safety of the people, preparing for various possible provocations."

On the same day, immediately after North Korea launched the ballistic missile, the Presidential Office convened a security inspection meeting chaired by In Seong-hwan, the Second Deputy Director of the National Security Office, and discussed countermeasures including receiving situation reports from relevant agencies.

A Presidential Office official said about the successive provocations by North Korea, "The government will strongly deter North Korea's provocations based on strong power, the ROK-US alliance, and ROK-US-Japan security cooperation."

He added, "The government sternly warns North Korea's provocations" and emphasized, "We urge the immediate cessation of all provocative acts, including the release of trash balloons."

On the morning of the 18th, citizens at the Seoul Station waiting room were watching news reports related to North Korea's launch of a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM).
North Korea launched the ballistic missile just five days after revealing a facility for producing highly enriched uranium (HEU) used in manufacturing nuclear warheads. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that around 6:50 a.m. on the same day, they detected several SRBMs launched northeastward from the area around Kaechon, South Pyongan Province. The North Korean missiles flew approximately 400 km.

North Korea carried out the missile launch provocation just five days after revealing a facility for producing highly enriched uranium (HEU), used in nuclear warhead manufacturing, on the 13th.

Recently, as the U.S. presidential election in November approaches, North Korea has been increasing the frequency of provocations and military demonstrations.

Additionally, South Korea has been receiving trash balloons sent from North Korea repeatedly this month on the 4th to 8th, the 11th, and the 14th to 15th.