Korea-US-Japan National Security Advisors Condemn North Korea's Missile Launch... Reaffirm 'Ironclad Security Commitment'

Joint Statement by Security Chiefs of Three Countries... "All Nations Must Implement Security Council Resolutions"

South Korea, the United States, and Japan issued a joint statement on the 15th condemning North Korea's launch of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs). The national security chiefs of the three countries stated, "We condemn North Korea's missile launches," adding, "These missile launches are a clear violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions."

Cho Tae-yong, South Korea's National Security Office Director; Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor; and Takeo Akiba, Director of Japan's National Security Secretariat, emphasized in the joint statement that North Korea's missile launches "demonstrate the threat posed by North Korea's illegal weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs to regional and international peace and security, as well as the international non-proliferation regime."

Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Security Office (right), is taking a commemorative photo with Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor (left), and Takeo Akiba, Director of Japan's National Security Bureau, at the trilateral security directors' meeting held in Tokyo, Japan on the 15th.

They further stated, "These actions highlight the necessity for all countries to fully implement the UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea, which are designed to prevent the acquisition of the technology and materials necessary for North Korea to conduct destabilizing launches."

In particular, the United States reaffirmed its "ironclad security commitments" to South Korea and Japan. The three countries "discussed ways to further strengthen trilateral cooperation, including seamless coordination to respond to the threats posed by North Korea's illegal nuclear and missile programs," and "confirmed that the ROK-US-Japan cooperation will not be shaken by North Korea's provocations and shared the belief that North Korea must choose the path of diplomacy rather than continued provocations."

Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff disclosed that on the evening of the same day, "from approximately 7:25 p.m. to 7:37 p.m., North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles from the Sunan area toward the East Sea." The Joint Chiefs explained, "The North Korean ballistic missiles each flew about 780 km before landing in the East Sea. The ROK-US intelligence authorities are comprehensively evaluating the detailed specifications and any additional provocations." They added, "North Korea's ballistic missile launches are serious provocations that undermine peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the international community. We strongly condemn these acts as clear violations of UN Security Council resolutions and urge their immediate cessation."

North Korea's recent provocations appear to be a response to the ongoing ROK-US combined and joint firepower destruction exercises that have been conducted since last month. These combined and joint firepower destruction exercises are demonstrations of firepower that showcase the ability of the ROK-US combined forces and joint land, sea, and air forces to retaliate and annihilate enemy provocations using the latest weapons.

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