[Unofficial Translation]

1. Today’s ballistic missile launch by the DPRK is another provocation conducted only 22 days after the ballistic missile launch on February 12, which came after its launches of 24 ballistic missiles last year, constituting a flagrant and clear violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions as well as a grave threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the international community as a whole. The ROK government condemns the DPRK’s provocation in the strongest terms.

2. The provocation was conducted in the midst of international community’s shock and anger to the DPRK’s inhumane murdering of Kim Jong-nam with VX nerve agent, a chemical weapon. This clearly demonstrates the regime’s recklessness that it will continue to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in defiance of the concerted warnings from the international community. The DPRK must realize that its repeated provocations and fanatic obsession with nuclear and ballistic missile development will only accelerate its path to isolation and self-destruction.

3. The ROK government will make the DPRK pay unbearable price by urging all countries to faithfully implement sanctions against the DPRK including UN Security Council resolution 2270 and 2321, along with friendly countries’ strong unilateral sanctions. In addition, the ROK government will unwaveringly protect the lives of its people and the security of the nation, while deterring the DPRK’s nuclear and missile threats, based on the strong ROK – U.S. combined defense posture by accelerating measures to further strengthen extended deterrence capabilities. /end/