Cheong Wa Dae convenes emergency security meeting after North Korea fires ballistic missile on National Foundation Day

The National Security Office at Cheong Wa Dae convened an emergency security situation review meeting Saturday morning immediately after North Korea launched a ballistic missile, checking the military's readiness posture and assessing the security implications. The government called on Pyongyang to immediately halt its repeated ballistic missile launches, saying they violate UN Security Council resolutions.

A Cheong Wa Dae official said in a press notice Saturday morning that the National Security Office held the emergency meeting — attended by the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other relevant agencies — after North Korea fired a ballistic missile from the Wonsan area into the Donghae on Saturday.

"At the meeting, the National Security Office confirmed our response status, analyzed and assessed the impact of this launch on our security, and directed that necessary measures be taken," the official said.

The government also directed agencies again to verify that there are no gaps in South Korea's readiness posture — particularly in light of the recent DMZ mine explosion and this latest ballistic missile launch — and to ensure all precautions are in place.

"North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches not only violate UN Security Council resolutions but are a grave act that does nothing to help manage the current situation," the official said, adding that the government called for an immediate halt.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff detected the ballistic missile, fired from the Wonsan area into the Donghae, at around 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Military authorities are analyzing the type of missile and details including its flight range.

The launch was North Korea's first ballistic missile test in 13 days, since Sept. 20. On that occasion, North Korea also fired a short-range ballistic missile from the Wonsan area into the Donghae, and the National Security Office convened an emergency security situation review meeting with the Defense Ministry, the Joint Chiefs and other relevant agencies to review the response posture.