Yoon: "North Korea's Reckless Nuclear Provocation Will Face Response from Allies and the International Community" (Update)

President Yoon "NSC Meeting Chaired by National Security Office Director... Will Attend Partway"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol warned on the 4th regarding North Korea's ballistic missile launch into the East Sea, stating, "As I mentioned on October 1st during Armed Forces Day, such reckless nuclear provocations will face resolute responses from our military, allied countries, and the international community."

President Yoon said during a door-stepping (brief Q&A on the way to work) at the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, "You must have seen the report this morning, but North Korea launched an intermediate-range missile flying over the Japanese archipelago, covering a distance of 4,000 km."

He added, "From 9 a.m., the National Security Council (NSC) chaired by National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han will be held, and I plan to attend partway through."

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that "At around 7:23 a.m. today, North Korea launched one intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Mupeong-ri area in Jagang Province, which passed over Japanese airspace."

The Japanese government also issued a 'J-Alert' (nationwide instantaneous warning system) for the first time in five years since September 15, 2017, due to North Korea's missile launch, and ordered evacuations in Hokkaido and Aomori.

North Korea has launched ballistic missiles five times from the 25th of last month to today. On the 25th, one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) was launched from the Taecheon area in North Pyongan Province; on the 28th, two missiles from the Sunan area in Pyongyang; on the 29th, two missiles from the Sunchon area in South Pyongan Province; and on the 1st, two missiles each from the Sunan area in Pyongyang, all launched into the East Sea.

Regarding this, President Yoon pointed out at the 74th Armed Forces Day ceremony held at Gyeryongdae, Chungnam, on the 1st, "Despite over 30 years of continuous opposition from the international community, North Korea has not abandoned its obsession with nuclear weapons and missiles," and warned, "If they attempt to use nuclear weapons, they will face resolute and overwhelming responses from the ROK-US alliance and our military."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.