Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

North Korea fires two short-range missiles: Republic of Korea starts response actions 

Cheong Wa Dae convenes NSC standing committee: “We will closely manage the situation through the crisis management center”

Ministry of National Defense: “Republic of Korea and the U.S. are analyzing the missile launches by sharing information, and will strengthen the cooperation and surveillance posture.”

Regarding North Korea’s two short-range missile launches in the early morning on July 25, the Ministry of National Defense has called on North Korea to halt any actions that hurt efforts to ease military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Ministry spokesperson Choi Hyun-soo made the announcement at the regular briefing on the same day. “Military authorities of Republic of Korea and the U.S. are analyzing the missile launches by sharing detailed information,” Choi emphasized. “The government has kept tabs on the situation. We will further strengthen our surveillance posture and continue to communicate closely with the U.S., based on bilateral cooperation,” Choi also said. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the East Sea from the Hodo Peninsula near Wonsan at around 5:34 and 5:57, early Thursday morning. Those missiles flew some 430 kilometers and some 690 kilometers, respectively. Both reached an altitude of around 50 kilometers. “The second missile that flew some 690 kilometers appears to be a new type of missile,” a military official said. The military said that it is monitoring the situation and is maintaining a readiness posture to provide against additional missile launches by North Korea.  Cheong Wa Dae and other key ministries responded immediately, operating an emergency response system. The statement from Cheong Wa Dae on the missile launches was “Cheong Wa Dae is closely managing the situation by operating a crisis management center of the National Security Office (NSO). President Moon Jae-in is receiving real-time reports from the NSO.” Through a written briefing on the same day, Han Jung-woo, deputy spokesperson of Cheong Wa Dae, made this announcement: “The government recognized the situation in advance, and is keeping a close eye on it. The government is operating an emergency response system among the related ministries,” Han explained. “Intelligence authorities of Republic of Korea and the U.S. are analyzing the North Korea’s short-range missiles while focusing on identifying specific information,” he also emphasized. Cheong Wa Dae also concentrated on future countermeasures at the regular meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) standing committee, which was presided over by National Security Director Chung Eui-yong later in the day. 

By Su-Yeol, Maeng <guns13@dema.mil.kr >

By Joo-Hyeong, Lee < jataka@dema.mil.kr >

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