Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Soosuk Lim

November 3, 2022  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

First, let me tell you about the latest series of missile provocations by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that are raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Yesterday, the DPRK launched different types of missiles and artillery, including short-range ballistic missiles, and one short-range ballistic missile landed near the ROK’s territorial waters south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea.

In addition, today, the DPRK launched one long-range ballistic missile and two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.

In response, yesterday, Foreign Minister Park Jin had a phone call with his U.S. counterpart, and the ROK Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs also spoke over the phone with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, respectively. Today, the ROK Vice Foreign Minister had a phone call with his U.S. counterpart, and a phone conversation was held among the ROK Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs and his U.S. and Japanese counterparts. In the phone calls, they condemned the DPRK’s provocations and discussed the appropriate response going forward.

The ROK government strongly condemns that the DPRK is continuing reckless and irresponsible provocations in violation of a number of UN Security Council resolutions and the Comprehensive Military Agreement despite warnings from the international community.

Particularly, the ROK government cannot but deplore such provocations against humanity during a national mourning period in the ROK.

The DPRK is carrying out missile provocations with unprecedented frequency to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities in accordance with its own plans despite stern warnings that the international community has issued all along.

All responsibility for escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region lies entirely with the DPRK. Any attempt by the DPRK to avoid or shift responsibility will never succeed.

The ROK government will actively strengthen deterrence against the DPRK to protect the lives and safety of ROK nationals based on the ironclad ROK-U.S. combined defense posture, and continue to firmly respond to any provocations by the DPRK in cooperation with the international community.

The ROK government condemns the DPRK for spending enormous resources on nuclear and missile development, while neglecting the livelihood and human rights of its people. Once again, the ROK government strongly urges the DPRK to immediately stop its unlawful provocations and return to denuclearization talks.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)