NewKerala.com

South Korea, US, Japan Hold Urgent Talks After North Korea Missile Launch

South Korea, the United States, and Japan held three-way phone talks to discuss North Korea's latest missile launch. The launch involved multiple short-range ballistic missiles fired toward the East Sea. North Korean state media reported the test was of an upgraded rocket system, overseen by Kim Jong-un. The allies condemned the launches as violations of UN Security Council resolutions and pledged a firm, coordinated response.

Key Points: US, Japan, South Korea Talks on North Korea Missile Launch

  • Trilateral talks held after missile launch
  • North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles
  • Kim Jong-un oversaw rocket system test
  • Launches violate UN resolutions
  • Coordination with international community pledged
2 min read

South Korea holds talks with US, Japan over North Korea missile launch

South Korea, US, and Japan held trilateral talks after North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch, condemning the violation of UN resolutions.

"North Korea's ballistic missile launches violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions - South Korean Foreign Ministry"

Seoul, Jan 28

South Korea, the United States and Japan discussed North Korea's latest missile launch and coordination efforts in three-way phone talks the previous day, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Baek Yong-jin, director general for the Korean Peninsula policy, spoke by phone with Dan Cintron, acting US deputy assistant secretary of state, and Otsuka Kengo, deputy director general of the Japanese foreign ministry's Asia and Oceania bureau, the ministry said, Yonhap News Agency reported.

On Tuesday, South Korea's military said the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, in yet another military muscle-flexing by Pyongyang ahead of its upcoming key party congress.

North Korean state media said Wednesday it has test-fired an upgraded large-caliber multiple rocket launcher system, with leader Kim Jong-un in attendance.

Seoul confirmed the phone talks with Washington and Tokyo only after it was first made public in Japan earlier Wednesday, a move seen as rare considering that such trilateral consultations on North Korea's provocations had mostly been released to the media promptly.

"South Korea, the US and Japan operate channels to swiftly share relevant information and assessments when North Korea launches ballistic missiles, and there was communication among the three sides regarding the latest launch," the ministry said.

The ministry said it did not disclose details about the phone discussion as the government's position on the latest missile launch was already made clear through the National Security Office and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"North Korea's ballistic missile launches violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions, and there has been no change in our position that we respond firmly in coordination with the international community," the ministry added.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting that Seoul confirmed the talks only after Japan made it public. Seems like there might be some internal coordination issues or perhaps a deliberate diplomatic signal? The dynamics in that region are always so complex.
V
Vikram M
From an Indian perspective, we understand the challenges of having an unpredictable neighbor. While our context is different, the need for strong alliances and clear communication with partners is a universal lesson. Hope diplomacy prevails.
P
Priya S
Kim Jong-un attending the test personally shows how much they rely on these displays for internal propaganda. It's a sad situation for the North Korean people, who suffer due to their leader's obsession with military might over development.
R
Rohit P
The article mentions UN resolutions, but we've seen how often they are violated without real consequence. The international community needs a more effective mechanism to deal with such repeated provocations. Just strong statements aren't enough.
M
Michael C
While the trilateral coordination is necessary, I hope it doesn't escalate tensions further. A measured, firm response that leaves the door open for dialogue is crucial. The people on the Korean peninsula deserve peace.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50