Regarding North Korea’s ballistic missile launch

North Korean state media reported yesterday that its National Aerospace Development Administration and the Academy of Defence Science conducted another important test on March 5 under the plan of developing a reconnaissance satellite.

Upon detecting a ballistic missile launch from around the North’s Sunan area toward the East Sea on March 5, the Government has tracked and monitored related movements while also maintaining a readiness posture. Meanwhile, the National Security Council convened an emergency meeting, condemning the North’s repeated missile launches and urging it to immediately stop such acts in the face of an international crisis due to the war in Ukraine and at a time when Beijing is holding the Paralympics and the South is holding its presidential election.

The Ministry of Unification also held an executive meeting presided by the Minister and Vice Minister shortly after the North’s missile launch. The meeting reviewed situations surrounding inter-Korean relations, and called on the North to choose the path of dialogue and cooperation over missile launches that run contrary to peace on the Korean Peninsula and around the world.

The Ministry, together with related agencies and countries, will closely monitor developments in the North and continue efforts to ensure that situations on the Korean Peninsula head toward peace and cooperation, not increased tension and confrontation.