Presidential Office convenes NSC Standing Committee over North Korea's ICBM launch

JCS: "North Korea ICBM Fired at High Angle, Flies 1000 km and Lands in East Sea"

The Presidential Office convened the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC) on the 18th in response to North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile, presumed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), into the East Sea.

On the same day, starting at 10:30 a.m., the Presidential Office held the NSC Standing Committee meeting at the Yongsan Presidential Office building to receive a report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and discuss response measures.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that "Our military detected one ICBM launched by North Korea from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea at approximately 8:24 a.m. today." The Joint Chiefs explained, "North Korea's ballistic missile was launched at a high angle, flew about 1,000 km, and landed in the East Sea," adding, "Our military has been tracking North Korea's ballistic missile launch preparations in close coordination with the U.S." They further noted, "South Korea, the U.S., and Japan maintained a joint detection and tracking readiness posture," and "The ballistic missile launch warning information was closely shared among the three parties."

A warning message was also issued to North Korea. The Joint Chiefs stated, "This long-range ballistic missile launch by North Korea is a serious provocative act that threatens peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the international community," and "We strongly condemn it as a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions that prohibit the use of ballistic missile technology and scientific and technological cooperation."

Meanwhile, Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, who attended the 2nd Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group meeting held in the U.S. the previous day and was returning home, mentioned the possibility of North Korean provocations this month, saying, "If such provocations by North Korea continue, we will prepare necessary measures between South Korea and the U.S., measures that each country can take individually, and measures that South Korea, the U.S., and Japan can take jointly."

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