통일부

< Meeting of NSC Standing Committee led by the President of ROK (press release from the Office of the President of the ROK on November 2 >
･ “The ROK emphasized that the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea was an unprecedented military provocation as one fell around the territorial waters of the ROK, 57km northeast of Sokcho, infringing on the NLL in the East Sea, and strongly criticized it as behavior seriously threatening peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.”
･ “The NSC committee clarified that North Korea should bear all responsibilities for heightening tension, including launching ballistic missiles and cruise missiles and firing multiple rocket launchers and coast batteries, infringing upon the UN Security Council resolution and Military Agreement on September 19.”
･ “Participants deplored that the provocation during the national period of mourning in the ROK clearly showed the attitude of the DPRK regime confronting moral laws and humanitarianism.”
･ “President Yoon Suk-yeol of the ROK pointed out that the provocation by North Korea was an actual territorial intrusion by missiles passing over the NLL for the first time since national division and declared that any attempts by North Korea trying to weaken the Korea-US alliance, as well as Korean society, should not work in the ROK.”
･ Moreover, President Yoon Suk-yeol of the ROK ordered quick and strict action against any provocation by North Korea to make it pay a definite price. He also requested to be ready for potential strong provocation by North Korea in the future and for the ROK Army to be fully poised to protect the life and safety of the public.

< Meeting of NSC Standing Committee (November 3, Presse Release from the Office of the President of the ROK) >
･ “We focused on the provocative actions by North Korea launching ballistic missiles again today since its first launch of a ballistic missile infringing upon the NLL yesterday since the national division.”
･ “The launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea is a severe infringement upon the UN Security Mandate and a serious provocation elevating tension in the region as well as on the Korean peninsula. Thus, the ROK strongly criticized such provocative actions. In particular, the ROK clearly declared that the ROK should continue the Korea-US joint defense drills to protect the life and safety of our people against the nuclear and missile threats made by North Korea.”
･ “Furthermore, the ROK deplored the conduct of North Korea, ruining the tremendous economic resources, sticking only to provocative behavior while neglecting the life and the human rights of North Koreans suffering from severe economic difficulties and the COVID-19 pandemic. The ROK also pointed out that the continuing provocations by North Korea would further isolate North Korea from other countries and worsen the future of the North Korean regime.”
･ “President Yoon Suk-yeol of the ROK ordered to perfectly secure the ROK-US joint defensive position and to not allow a hair out of place for the life and safety of Korean residents because North Korea has been increasing the degree of provocative behaviors. He also asked to expand national security cooperation among the ROK, the US, and Japan, as well as strengthen the ROK's and the US's executive ability for extended deterrence.”

< Opinions of the Ministry of Unification (Briefing on November 4) >
･ “The Korean government strongly criticizes that North Korea has been elevating tension on the Korean peninsula by continuing threats and provocations against annual defensive drills of the ROK.”
･ “In particular, such provocative behaviors of North Korea during the national mourning period are against moral laws and humanitarianism.”
･ “The Korean government clearly announced that the current tension was caused by the irrational development of nuclear power and missiles by North Korea once again.”
･ “The Korean government should secure a strong position deterring provocations for the life and safety of the Korean people and furthermore, urged North Korea to immediately stop such provocations and respond to the Audacious Initiative proposed by the Korean government.”

< Joint Statement >
･ “Ministers in the ROK and the US strongly criticize North Korea for elevating tensions, including the test launch of ballistic missile and the firing of multiple rocket launchers and coast batteries and the infringement of the UN Security Mandate and urged international communities to impose sanctions against North Korea. Moreover, both parties expressed concern on the behaviors of North Korea elevating tension, including endeavors to develop nuclear power and missiles and the threat to use a tactical nuclear weapon.”
･ “US Secretary of Defense Austin reassured the strong commitment of the US to provide extended deterrence for the ROK by operating the military capability in all fields including nuclear and conventional missile defense and advanced denuclearization ability.”
･ “US Secretary of Defense Austin warned that the US would not accept any kind of nuclear attack by North Korea, including non-strategic nuclear weapons (tactical nuclear weapons) toward the US or allies or friendly countries of the US, and such attacks should cause the end of the Kim Jong-un regime.”
･ “Ministers of the ROK and the US reconfirmed the commitment of the US to deploy the strategic assets of the US on the Korean peninsula in a timely manner using a coordinated approach as required and to find new actions to strengthen the deterrence ability.”
･ “US Secretary of Defense Austin welcomed the Audacious Initiative as an effective approach to induce North Korea to denuclearize.”

< Phnom Penh Statement on the ROK, US, and Japan Partnership in India and the Pacific (November 13)>
･ “The leaders of three states reconfirmed that North Korea should face strong and resolute action by the international community if North Korea carries out a nuclear test. The ROK, US, and Japan will discuss sanctions against North Korea and cooperate to ensure that sanctions are faithfully carried out by narrowing the gap among the international sanction systems."
･ “US President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida expressed their support on the goals of the Audacious Initiative of the ROK.”

< ROK-US-Japan Summit (November 13)>
･ “Three leaders of the ROK, the US, and Japan evaluated that the ROK, the US, and Japan worked closely against provocative behaviors by North Korea and agreed that the ROK, the US, and Japan should strengthen the trilateral cooperation more than ever for peace and stability in Northeast Asia and on the Korean peninsula.”

< ROK-US Summit (November 13) >
･ “Leaders of the ROK and the US expressed serious concerns on the unprecedented and aggressive provocations of North Korea and agreed to continue and strengthen the solid joint defense position and thorough cooperation between the ROK and the US.”
･ “Leaders of the ROK and the US reconfirmed that both countries should react with the overwhelming power, using all available means, in the ROK and the US if North Korea uses any kind of nuclear power.”

< Opinions of Ministry of Unification (November 17) >
･ “It’s very lamentable that North Korea carried out armed provocations without mourning during the national mourning period of the ROK. Moreover, using such a tragedy as a subject for political critics in the international community discussing human rights and humanitarianism infringes upon the principles of humanitarianism, and the ROK was very afraid of such behavior.”

< Korean Government Statement (November 18) >
1. The Korean government strongly criticized the launch of long-range ballistic missiles (ICBM) by North Korea today. The ICBM launch by North Korea is definitely an infringement upon the UN Security mandate and a severe provocation, elevating tension in the region as well as on the Korean peninsula.
2. All behaviors by North Korea related to nuclear and ballistic missile programs inhibited through the UN Security Council Mandate shall not be legitimated for any reason. The Korean government will not accept provocations by North Korea and will closely work with the UN and the international community to call North Korea to account for provocations on the basis of close ROK and US cooperation. Moreover, the Korean government will enhance security cooperation among the ROK, the US, and Japan more than ever.
3. The Korean government has an overwhelming reaction ability and will immediately punish any provocations by North Korea. Thus, North Korea should not misjudge the ability and will of the ROK.
4. North Korea has nothing to gain from continuing provocations. The international community keeps strengthening sanctions against North Korea, and the international alienation of North Korea will be more aggravated. Moreover, wrong decisions by the North Korean regime will aggravate people’s livelihood falling into extreme economic difficulties in North Korea.
5. The Korean government urges North Korea to stop provocations and respond to the Audacious Initiative supported by the international community.

< Urgent Meeting of NSC Standing Committee (November 18) >
･ “President Yoon Suk-yeol of the ROK ordered to strengthen the joint defense status of the ROK and the US, progressive implementation to strengthen the executive ability of extended deterrence agreed upon between the ROK and the US and enhance the national security cooperation among the ROK, the US, and Japan.”
･ “Moreover, President Yoon Suk-yeol of the ROK asked to strongly criticize North Korea and promote sanctions against North Korea, including a response by the UN Security Council and the US and the international community.”

< Opinions of Ministry of Unification (Briefing on November 24) >
･ “It’s very deplorable that Deputy Department Director Kim Yo-jong has no basic etiquette criticizing the Chief of State of the ROK using vulgar and rough words today.”
･ “Consecutive missile launches caused the tense situations on the Korean peninsula by North Korea. The ROK laments the attitude of the DPRK, throwing the entire responsibility on the ROK, like a thief beating an owner.”
･ “Furthermore, the ROK strongly criticizes dishonest attempts to shake the regime and stir up anti-government campaigns by the public. The DPRK should realize that ROK residents never sympathize with such attempts, and the awareness of the ROK residents on the North Korean regime will worsen.”