[Unofficial Translation]

1. Today, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) once again conducted a ballistic missile launch. The Government of Republic of Korea (ROK) condemns in the strongest terms this repeated provocation by the DPRK, which is a reckless and irresponsible act throwing a wet blanket on the expectations and aspirations of our new government and the international community for denuclearization and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

2. The ROK Government has recently sent Presidential Envoys to major countries such as the United States, the People’s Republic of China, Japan, and the Russian Federation and has clearly demonstrated its firm will to find a fundamental resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue, seeking to make use of every available means including sanctions and dialogues. While remaining open to the possibility of dialogue, the ROK Government will adhere to the position of firmly responding to any provocative acts by the DPRK. In this regard, the ROK Government once again urges the DPRK to cease all forms of provocation in violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and to return to the path of denuclearization.

3. The ROK Government will not tolerate any provocative action by the DPRK and will remain steadfast in safeguarding the lives of our people and the security of the nation based on the firm basis of ROK-US alliance. /end/