National Security Council expresses strong regret over North Korea's latest provocation

A man watches a TV screen at a train station in Seoul, Jan. 17, showing a news program reporting about North Korea's missile launch with a file image. AP-Yonhap

The presidential National Security Council (NSC) expressed strong regret Monday after North Korea fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles eastward that marked its fourth show of force this month.

The council held an emergency meeting after South Korea's military announced that the North fired two suspected ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

North Korea fires 2 more suspected ballistic missiles eastward from Pyongyang airfield 2022-01-17 09:19  |  North Korea
"The standing members of the NSC had an in-depth discussion as the strongly regretful situation continues, with North Korea firing missiles four times in a row this year," Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement.

President Moon Jae-in, who is on a three-nation visit to the Middle East, was briefed about the North's latest launch and instructed his aides to make utmost efforts to ensure stability of the situation on the Korean Peninsula, presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee said in a separate statement.

The NSC members noted that they will redouble their efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea to prevent tensions on the Korean Peninsula from increasing further.

The latest launches came just three days after the North fired two suspected short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea that it later claimed to be guided missiles launched from a railway-borne regiment during a firing exercise. (Yonhap)