Following North Korea’s intermediate-range ballistic missile launch early Tuesday morning, President Moon Jae-in ordered the military to demonstrate its capabilities to retaliate against provocations from the North.
 
Presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan said in a news briefing that the president gave the order upon receiving a report from National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong about the latest North Korean provocation.
 
With the president’s order, four Air Force fighters conducted a bombing exercise at a shooting range in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, at 10:20 a.m.
 
Meanwhile, the adviser convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council’s standing committee at 7 a.m. to discuss the North’s ballistic missile firing.
 
The meeting strongly condemned North Korea for firing another ballistic missile in violation of UN Security Council resolutions despite stern warnings from the international community.
 
The council decided to maintain a stronger defense posture against additional provocations from the North, calling Tuesday’s missile launch very grave.
 
Following the emergency meeting, the national security adviser held a phone conference with his U.S. counterpart Herbert McMaster to discuss how the two allies will respond to Pyongyang.
 
McMaster said in the phone call that U.S. President Donald Trump fully supports Moon’s North Korea policies and the South Korean government’s responses to North Korean provocations. He assured that Washington’s defense commitment to Seoul and their alliance remains solid and unwavering.
 
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson also discussed the North Korean missile launch in a phone call on Tuesday. Tillerson expressed disappointment at Pyongyang’s decision to fire a missile despite the U.S.’ dialogue proposal. The two top diplomats agreed to discuss stronger sanctions against Pyongyang and refer the latest provocation to the UN Security Council.
 
A high-ranking South Korean presidential official said Tokyo and the international community are responding sensitively as the North Korean missile flew over Japan’s territorial waters. He said President Moon and the top office also view the situation gravely.
 
The official added that Seoul is considering the deployment of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula. 

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