South Korea, the United States, and Japan held discussions regarding North Korea’s recent missile launch in a three-way phone call. The talks involved Baek Yong-jin from South Korea, Dan Cintron from the US, and Otsuka Kengo from Japan. The missile launch by North Korea involved firing multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards the East Sea, as confirmed by South Korea’s military.
North Korean state media reported that the country test-fired an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system, with leader Kim Jong-un present during the test. The communication between Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo regarding the missile launch was confirmed by South Korea after it was initially disclosed in Japan. This move was considered unusual as such trilateral consultations on North Korea’s actions are typically promptly shared with the media.
The three countries – South Korea, the US, and Japan – maintain communication channels to promptly exchange relevant information and assessments when North Korea conducts ballistic missile launches. The South Korean ministry refrained from disclosing specific details of the phone discussion, citing that the government’s stance on the missile launch had already been articulated through the National Security Office and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The ministry reiterated that North Korea’s ballistic missile activities contravene multiple UN Security Council resolutions, and South Korea remains committed to responding firmly in coordination with the international community.
