| October
1 | - The ROK President delivers a
message to North Korea that if it does not give up the
Byungjin Line (developing nuclear weapons and the economy
simultaneously), the North will face international isolation
and a deepening economic crisis (in her speech on the 68th
anniversary of Armed Forces Day).
|
| October 3 | - The ROK
Prime Minister emphasizes that we need to open an era of
genuine peace by addressing the North Korean nuclear issue
(in his congratulatory speech on National Foundation
Day).
|
| October 3 | - North Korea harshly criticizes the ROK
President’s speech on Armed Forces Day (in a Rodong Sinmun
editorial).
|
| October 4 |
- The ROK government expresses
strong regret over Rodong Sinmun’s criticism of the ROK
President’s speech (October3) and calls on North Korea to
improve the livelihoods of people in distress (in a press
briefing by the Ministry of Unification).
|
| October 6 | - MIKTA
(Mexico, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Turkey, and
Australia) speakers adopt a joint statement condemning North
Korea’s nuclear test (at the second MIKTA Speakers’
Consultation).
|
| October 9 |
- The U.S. confirms that it duly
recognizes the North Korean threat and it is determined to
stand with the ROK in addressing this threat, emphasizing
that it is willing to use all possible means to pressure
North Korea (in a statement released by U.S. Ambassador to
the UN Samantha Power at the press conference at the U.S.
Embassy in Korea).
|
| October
10 | - The North Korean Human
Rights Archives under the Ministry of Justice opens.
|
| October 10 | - The ROK and the U.S. conduct the joint
naval drill “Invincible Spirit 2016” (October 10-15).
|
| October 11 | - The ROK President mentions that North
Korean defectors’ successful settlement in South Korea can
bring hope to the North Korean people and orders the
reorganization of the support system to help North Korean
defectors settle in South Korean society (at a Cabinet
meeting).
|
| October 13 |
- The ROK President condemns the North
Korean regime and sends a message to the North Korean people
(in unification dialogue with overseas members of the
National Unification Advisory Council).
|
| October 15 | -
North Korea fires a missile near an airbase
in the northwestern city of Kusong, North Pyongan
Province. * It is believed to be a Musudan missile,
and the launch is presumed to have failed (by Joint Chiefs
of Staff on October 16).
|
| October 16 | - The ROK
government strongly denounces North Korea’s mid-range
ballistic missile launch (October 15) as a clear violation
of UNSC resolutions, regardless of whether it was successful
or not, and a grave threat to the peace and security of the
Korean Peninsula and the international community (in a
commentary by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs).
|
| October 17 |
- The UN Security Council adopts a
press statement condemning North Korea’s missile launch
(October 15).
|
| October
19 | - Seoul and Washington
reconfirm the U.S.’s commitment to provide extended
deterrence for the ROK in response to the North Korean
nuclear and missile threats (in a joint statement after a
2+2 meeting between ROK-U.S. defense and foreign affairs
leaders).
|
| October 20 |
- Seoul and Washington agree to
examine rotational deployment of U.S. strategic weapons on
the Korean Peninsula and reconfirm the U.S.’s commitment to
extended deterrence (in a joint statement at the 48th
ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting).
|
| October 20 | -
North Korea fires a missile near an airbase
in the northwestern city of Kusong, North Pyongan
Province. * It is believed to be a Musudan missile,
and the launch is presumed to have failed (by Joint Chiefs
of Staff on October 20).
|
| October 20 | - The ROK
government strongly denounces North Korea’s mid-range
ballistic missile launch (October 20) as a clear violation
of UNSC resolutions, regardless of whether it was successful
or not, and a grave threat to the peace and security of the
Korean Peninsula and the international community (in a
commentary by a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs).
|
| October 20 |
- North Korea argues that it “will
launch more Juche satellites pursuant to the five-year plan
for national aerospace development” (in a statement by a
spokesperson for the National Aerospace Development
Administration (NADA)).
|
| October 20 | - Regarding the
statement by a spokesperson for the NADA (October 20), the
ROK government points out that North Korea’s satellite
launch would constitute a clear violation of UNSC
resolutions that prohibit any launch using ballistic missile
technology, urging the North Korean authorities to comply
with the resolutions reflecting the consensus of the
international community (in a regular briefing by a
spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
|
| October 21 | - The Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
calls on member countries to impose tougher financial
sanctions on North Korea (in an official statement regarding
North Korea at the plenary meeting in Paris on October
15-21).
|
| October 23 |
- North Korea maintains that the South
did neither consult with Pyongyang nor informed the North of
its stand to abstain from the UN vote on the North’s human
rights regarding the allegations that Moon Jae-in, former
head of the Minjoo Party of Korea, was involved in the
process (in a Q&A session with KCNA reporters by a
spokesperson for the Committee for the Peaceful
Reunification of the Country of the DPRK (CPRC)).
|
| October 24 |
- The ROK President reconfirms the South’s policy stance -
sanctions and pressure on North Korea (in her speech at the
National Assembly on the Government Proposal for FY 2017
Budget Plan and Fiscal Operations).
|
| October 24 | - The ROK
government dismisses the Q&A session with KCNA reporters
by a spokesperson for the CPRC (October 23) as a one-sided
argument meant to cause conflict in South Korean society,
calling on the North to immediately desist from such
behavior (in a regular briefing by a spokesperson for the
Ministry of Unification).
|
| October 24 | - The Missile
Technology Control Regime (MTCR) announces a resolution that
the inflow of missile technology and components into North
Korea should be closely monitored (at the 30th plenary
meeting of the MTCR).
|
| October 27 | - Seoul,
Washington, and Tokyo confirm that they will strengthen
trilateral cooperation in imposition of sanctions on North
Korea including unilateral sanctions (in a vice foreign
ministerial meeting among the ROK, the U.S., and
Japan).
|
