Seoul – South Korea’s defence ministry blasted a suspected North Korean ballistic missile launch on Saturday, demanding the North stop any actions that flare tensions on the peninsula.
The ministry said it “strongly condemns the recent missile launch” and expressed deep regret at North Korea’s criticism of the annual South‑Korea‑US military exercises and the joint security talks. It called on Pyongyang to “immediately halt” all activities that raise hostility between the two Koreas.
The warning followed Friday’s launch of a short‑range missile toward the East Sea. North Korean officials had warned that the missile test was a response to new U.S. sanctions.
US Forces Korea (USFK) confirmed its awareness of the missile launch and stressed that it is working closely with South Korean forces to stay ready. “Our focus remains on maintaining the readiness required to defend the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region,” the USFK said in a statement.
North’s Defence Minister, No Kwang‑chol, accused the U.S. and South Korea of holding “intentional” security talks that the DPRK views as hostile. He pledged to take “more offensive” actions to counter what he called enemy threats. His remarks came the same day South and U.S. defence chiefs met in Seoul for the Security Consultative Meeting, where they discussed key alliance issues.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Indo‑Pacific Command reiterated its readiness to defend the United States and its allies. The command said it was consulting closely with partners and noted that the missile launch, while not an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, highlighted the destabilising impact of North Korean actions.
The North’s latest missile launch follows an earlier short‑range test on October 22 that Pyongyang said was in response to the Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and a scheduled visit by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
As the Korean Peninsula remains on edge, South Korea, the United States, and regional partners stay alert to any further North Korean missile tests that could destabilise the area.
Source: ianslive
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