Anchor: Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn strongly condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launch on Monday. Hwang said Seoul will complete THAAD deployment as soon as possible and pursue ways to strengthen Washington's extended deterrence.
Our Kim In-kyung has more.
 
Report: Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn convened the National Security Council(NSC) immediately after being briefed that North Korea fired ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Monday.
 
It was the first time that Hwang presided over an NSC meeting at the presidential office since becoming acting president.
 
During the NSC's standing committee meeting, Hwang condemned the launch as a grave provocation against the international community.
 
The acting prime minister said that considering the brutality and recklessness of the North Korean regime, there could be unimaginable consequences if the North obtained nuclear weapons.
 
[Sound bite: Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn (Korean)]
"Considering the brutality and recklessness of the North Korean regime as shown in the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, the consequences will be unimaginably horrendous if the North obtained nuclear weapons."
 
He ordered the government to maintain a strong military posture in alliance with Washington and to cooperate with allies so that sanctions against the North will be implemented more strongly.
 
Hwang stressed that South Korea should complete the deployment of the THAAD antimissile battery as soon as possible to establish a preventive system against the North's nuclear missiles.
 
He said Seoul should also pursue measures to strengthen Washington's extended deterrence, referring to the U.S.' guarantee to provide the same level of nuclear deterrence to its allies that applies to the U.S.
 
Hwang said the government will securely handle any threat by the North and called for national unity to overcome the situation.
 
[Sound bite: Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn (Korean)]
"I hope the public will trust the government and the military and unite to overcome the situation."
 
Hours after the test firing of missiles Monday morning, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the North will have to pay "unbearable prices" for the provocation. The government said it will make sure that the global community will thoroughly implement UN sanctions against the North.
Kim In-kyung, KBS World Radio News. 

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