The National Security Council on Tuesday expressed regret over North Korea’s launch of an unidentified projectile into the East Sea earlier in the day. 

The presidential office held an emergency meeting of the National Security Council’s standing committee to discuss ways to respond to the latest launch. 

In a statement regarding the council’s meeting, the top office described the projectile as “a short-range missile,” adding that participants were briefed on the launch from Won In-choul, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

The meeting’s participants expressed regret over the fact that the launch came at a time when stability on the Korean Peninsula is extremely vital. 

After being briefed on the meeting from National Security Adviser Suh Hoon, President Moon Jae-in ordered related government agencies to thoroughly analyze the North’s latest statements and missile launches and come up with response measures. 

He apparently stressed the need to accurately determine the North’s intent behind the launch which comes after Pyongyang positively responded to Moon’s proposal to declare a formal end to the Korean War.