South Korea's top national security adviser and his American counterpart agreed on Thursday to work closely and respond strongly against North Korea's ballistic missile launch the previous day.
 
The presidential office said National Security Adviser Kim Kwan-jin and his U.S. counterpart Herbert McMaster spoke on the phone for about 20 minutes Thursday morning. The top office said the officials condemned the North for continuing to launch ballistic missiles despite a grave warning by the international community.
 
They agreed to pursue various measures to strengthen sanctions and pressure against Pyongyang by the international community, including actions by the UN Security Council. They also reaffirmed the deployment of the U.S. antimissile system THAAD in South Korea.
 
McMaster said the North's nuclear and missile threats will be an important agenda at talks between the U.S. and Chinese presidents in Florida later in the day.
 
Kim and McMaster also condemned the chemical weapons attack in Syria which killed dozens of civilians, saying that it was an inhumane act that violated international norms. 

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