Seoul: Senior diplomats from South Korea, the US, and Japan held phone conversations on Friday following North Korea’s recent ballistic missile launches. The three countries shared information about the missile launches and discussed future strategies, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), North Korea fired approximately 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea on Thursday.
Meanwhile, North Korean state media reported on Friday that a 600-millimeter multiple rocket launcher, tactical cruise missiles, and air-to-surface missiles were tested during a weapons demonstration the previous day, Yonhap news agency reported.
Officials from the three countries shared information
Baek Yong-jin, Director General for Korean Peninsula Policy at South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held a phone conversation with David Wilzol, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Northeast Asia Affairs at the US State Department, and Takashi Ariyoshi, a senior official at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The three officials shared relevant information and discussed future steps,” the ministry said in a press release.
The ministry also stated that in the event of a North Korean ballistic missile launch, foreign ministry officials from the three countries use an established communication channel to quickly share information and assessments.
Missile launch comes amid rising border tensions
North Korea’s latest missile launch comes a week after South Korea proposed military talks with Pyongyang to resolve the border dispute.
Last month, three South Korean soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Following this, tensions have escalated along the border between the two countries.
South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul condemned North Korea’s latest missile launches on Thursday. While attending a meeting of regional defense ministers in the Philippines, he said these activities pose a threat to the security of the Korean Peninsula and the entire region.
Addressing the plenary session of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), Kang said, “Today, at this very moment, North Korea is posing a threat to the security of the Korean Peninsula and the region by firing multiple missiles.”
South Korea calls for resumption of dialogue
Referring to the recent explosions of landmines laid by North Korea south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), the South Korean Defense Minister called it a clear violation and provocation of the armistice agreement, which was signed to end the Korean War that lasted from 1950 to 1953.
Stressing the need to restore dialogue between the two countries, Kang said, “When communication is disrupted, it becomes difficult to understand the other side’s intentions. Mutual distrust and tensions can lead to further conflict and crisis.”
He called for the resumption of dialogue between North and South Korea.