1. The government of the Republic of Korea strongly condemns North Korea’s ballistic missile launch this morning.

2. The launch by North Korea today is not only a flagrant violation of UN Security Council resolutions banning any launch using ballistic missile technology, but also a serious provocation which disregards the united determination of the international community, reflected in UN Security Council resolution 2270, and threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the world.

3. The ROK government, in cooperation with the international community, will swiftly pursue necessary measures to be taken by the UN Security Council. The ROK government will also exert full-fledged efforts to put pressure on North Korea through faithful implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions, in order to make sure that North Korea clearly realizes that it cannot survive unless it abandons its nuclear and missile programs.

4. The ROK government is fully prepared to counter any North Korean provocation that threatens the lives of the Korean people and the security of the ROK, and will respond firmly to such provocation.


* unofficial translation