NSC "北발사체, 새로운 종류 단거리 탄도미사일…강한 우려"
The National Security Council concluded that the projectiles test-fired by the North this morning,... are short-range ballistic missiles.
As it's a clear violation of UN sanctions,... South Korean officials expressed deep concern toward such actions that disrupt peace on the Peninsula.
Park Hee-jun has the full story.
South Korea's assessment of North Korea's projectiles launched on Thursday: A new type of short-range ballistic missile.
The conclusion was reached after some thirteen hours since the first missile was test-fired,... and was delivered during a National Security Council meeting presided by National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong.
But this will have to be finalized after further analysis by Seoul and Washington.
The council members also expressed strong concerns regarding the regime's unexpected action, which further makes it difficult to ease military tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
The official assessment reflects that South Korea takes this situation seriously.
It's the first time the South Korean government has defined North Korea's projectiles as "ballistic missiles" this year.
When the North tested weapons back in May,.... South Korea downplayed them as just short-range missiles.
Thursday's launch of ballistic missiles is a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Korea from using such technology.
It also puts into question,... the future direction of denuclearization talks between Pyeongyang and Washington,... amid efforts to restart them after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump met at the DMZ last month.
Also discussed during the NSC meeting were possible measures to ensure the safety of civilian vessels at the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf.
They also reaffirmed the government's stance that a Russian jet did intrude South Korea's airspace on Tuesday.
The NSC meeting was held for about two hours on Thursday afternoon.
According to Deputy Blue House Spokesperson Han Jung-woo,... President Moon Jae-in was briefed immediately after the test-fire.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.