US-ROK and ROK-Japan North Korea Nuclear Representatives Discuss Response to North Korea MRBM... "Strong Condemnation"

Takehiro Funakoshi, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (left), Kim Gun, Director-General for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea at the Department of State, are posing for a commemorative photo before the South Korea-U.S.-Japan senior officials' meeting on North Korea's nuclear issue held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 3.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] In response to North Korea's launch of a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), the government discussed countermeasures with the U.S. and Japan's senior nuclear representatives.

On the 18th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Kim Gun, head of the Korea Peace Negotiation Office, held separate phone consultations with Sung Kim, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, and Takehiro Funakoshi, Japan's senior nuclear representative, regarding Korea-U.S. and Korea-Japan cooperation.

During the call, the three senior representatives strongly condemned North Korea for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region by conducting another missile provocation just one month after launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on the 18th of last month.

The three senior representatives emphasized the importance of a unified and resolute international response to North Korea's illegal provocations, which are in direct violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. To this end, they agreed to continuously strengthen bilateral and trilateral communication and cooperation.

Furthermore, the Korea-U.S. senior nuclear representatives agreed to thoroughly prepare for any additional provocations by North Korea while maintaining a strong Korea-U.S. combined defense posture.

Meanwhile, on the same day, North Korea launched two MRBMs into the East Sea from the Dongchang-ri area in Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province.

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