Seoul Condemns Pyongyang's Latest Ballistic Missile Launch
South Korea strongly condemned North Korea's recent suspected ballistic missile launch and urged Pyongyang to stop actions that could escalate tensions, according to Yonhap News.
South Korean Defense Ministry's Statement
The ministry expressed deep regret over Pyongyang’s denunciation of the South Korea-US annual military exercises held from November 3 to 7 and the recent defense chiefs meeting on Tuesday. It called on North Korea to immediately halt
all acts that increase tensions between the two nations.
North Korea's Missile Launch Details
The statement was released a day after the South Korean military announced that North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea off its east coast on Friday.
US Forces Korea Reaction
In a separate statement, US Forces Korea (USFK) confirmed awareness of the missile launch and pledged to defend its allies.
We are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Our focus is on maintaining the readiness required to defend the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region.
Recent Diplomatic and Military Meetings
- On Monday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back visited the Demilitarized Zone on Hegseth’s first trip to South Korea.
- On Tuesday, the two countries held their annual security consultative meeting.
Summary: South Korea and the US condemned North Korea's recent missile launch, emphasizing defense readiness and calling for an immediate halt to escalating tensions.