The presidential office convened on Saturday a meeting of the National Security Council’s standing committee to discuss North Korea’s launch of unidentified projectiles earlier in the day.
 
In line with orders from President Moon Jae-in, the committee held a meeting chaired by the council’s head, Chung Eui-yong, for an hour from 8:30 a.m.
 
Presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan said the government believes the projectiles that the North launched on Saturday were improved models fired from a 300mm multiple rocket launcher. He was quick to add, however, that military authorities are thoroughly analyzing the characteristics and capacity of the projectiles.
 
The top office’s statement indicates Seoul does not believe the projectiles fired on Saturday are ballistic missiles. However, the U.S. Pacific Command has assessed that the North launched three short-range ballistic missiles.
 
The command announced that the first and third missiles "failed in flight" and the second missile "appears to have blown up almost immediately" on its launch pad.
 
Yoon said the standing committee reviewed the North’s latest provocation and the South Korean military’s preparedness. He added that Seoul decided to more thoroughly conduct the Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercise, which is currently underway. The exercise is held jointly every year between South Korea and the U.S. around this time.  

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