hankyoreh

Noh Jae-cheon

North Korea’s launch of a missile on Aug. 29 was “assessed to be an Intermediate Ballistic Range Missile (IRBM),” the Blue House announced, while also terming the situation as being as “very serious” and representing “a sensitive issue for the international community.”

Yoon Young-chan, the Senior Secretary for Communication, gave a briefing at the Blue House press room earlier today and stated, “President Moon jae-in received a report this morning from Chung Eui-young, Chief of the Blue House National Security office, and ordered him to display our ability to severely punish North Korea. In accordance with this, at about 9:20 am, four F15K fighter jets carrying eight MK84 bombs took part in a bombing exercise at the Victory Training Range in Taebaek, Gangwon Province.” The government also announced it would release video of the launch of the Hyunmoo 2 ballistic missile which took place on Aug. 24.

Yoon added that, “South Korea and the United States are sharing information about the missile launches in real time…the US is also examining deployment of its strategic assets.” Regarding concerns that the deployment of these assets would accelerate an unstable situation, the Blue House stated simply, “We will discuss with this with the US government.” A senior government source added that, in response to the North Korean missile going through Japanese airspace, “We are also discussing [the situation] separately with Japan.”

After presiding over a meeting of the National Security Council Standing Committee at 7 am in the morning, Chung discussed a joint US-Korean response to the missile launch during a phone call with US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster. “The Trump administration fully supports President Moon’s North Korea policy and the steps it is taking in response to this provocative action,” Secretary Yoon said of the conversation. “[McMaster told us to] relax, as the Americans’ defense cooperation with South Korea is unshakeable.”

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha also had a phone conversation with her counterpart, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. “It’s very disappointing that even though we offered to have dialogue, North Korea has taken this provocative action,” said Tillerson. The two top diplomats also stated that they would refer North Korea to the United Nation Security Council in light of the latest missile launch.

By Jung Yu-gyung, staff reporter

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