White House Condemns North Korea's ICBM Test... Will Take All Necessary Measures for ROK-US Security

The United States condemned North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea and urged dialogue.

Sean Savett, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council (NSC), stated in a press release on the 30th (local time), "The United States strongly condemns North Korea's ICBM test," adding, "This launch is a blatant violation of multiple United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions."

He pointed out, "The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command assessed that this launch does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel, territory, or our allies, but this launch unnecessarily escalates tensions and risks destabilizing the regional security situation." He also said, "It only shows that North Korea continues to prioritize its illegal weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its own people," urging, "We call on all countries to condemn such violations and for North Korea to cease destabilizing actions and engage in serious dialogue."

Spokesperson Savett emphasized, "The national security team is working closely with our allies and partners," and stated, "The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the U.S. homeland and our allies, South Korea and Japan."

Earlier, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea launched one ballistic missile, presumed to be an ICBM, into the East Sea from the Pyongyang area around 7:10 a.m. on the 31st. Japan also stated that the ballistic missile launched by North Korea was of ICBM class, reaching a maximum altitude of 7,000 km.