The Office of National Security (ONS) of the Blue House convened an Emergency Security Situation Review Meeting on March 14, involving the Department of Defense and other relevant agencies, in response to North Korea’s launch of over ten ballistic missiles into the East Sea from the vicinity of Pyongyang.
Military officials and the Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea fired approximately ten ballistic missiles around 1:20 p.m. (South Korean time) from the Sunan area near Pyongyang. The missiles traveled an estimated distance of 350 km (about 217 miles).
The ballistic missiles launched in this incident are believed to be similar to those fired into the East Sea earlier in January. U.S. and South Korean authorities are currently analyzing the specific missile specifications, range, and potential motives behind the launch.
ONS assessed the impact of this launch on national security and reviewed necessary countermeasures. Given that joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises are scheduled fromMarch 9 to 19, they directed relevant agencies to maintain heightened vigilance and readiness.
In a statement, the ONS condemned the ballistic missile launch as a provocative act that violates United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions, and demanded North Korea to cease such actions immediately.
Sources indicate that the ONS provided real-time updates to President Lee Jae Myung regarding the North Korean missile launch and related developments.
This marks North Korea’s third ballistic missile launch of the year, occurring 47 days after their previous test. It’s worth noting that on March 4 and 10, North Korea also conducted cruise missile launches from the destroyer Choe Hyon-ho.
This latest provocation represents the most significant show of force since the commencement of the U.S.-South Korea joint exercises on March 9. Analysts suggest the timing may have been deliberately chosen to coincide with the visit of Michael DeSombre, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who arrived in South Korea on March 11.