[Anchor]

North Korea launched several ballistic missiles into DONGHAE on the morning of today (October 12). Cheong Wa Dae convened an emergency security situation review meeting and condemned North Korea's consecutive missile launches.

Choi Jae-yeong reports.

[Reporter]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that North Korea launched several ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area into DONGHAE at around 9:20 a.m. today.

It added that several missiles were fired, with one of them flying more than 900 kilometers.

[Jang Doyoung / Head of the Public Affairs Office at the Joint Chiefs of Staff: The detected North Korean missile flew more than 900 kilometers, and South Korea and the United States are currently conducting a detailed analysis on its exact specifications.]

The South Korean military is reportedly leaning more toward the possibility that the missiles launched today were short-range missiles rather than hypersonic missiles.

As this missile launch by North Korea came four days after the South Korean government disclosed the first test launch of a domestic hypersonic glide vehicle, it is interpreted as an intention to counter South Korea's disclosure of hypersonic weapon development.

North Korea's ballistic missile launch came nine days after October 3, marking its 16th such launch this year.

Cheong Wa Dae also took emergency action in response to North Korea's repeated missile launches.

The National Security Office held an emergency security situation review meeting with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in attendance.

At the meeting, officials analyzed the impact of North Korea's consecutive ballistic missile launches on South Korea's security and reviewed the military's readiness posture.

They also emphasized making every effort regarding the security situation and instructed necessary measures.

The National Security Office urged an immediate halt, stating that North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches are a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a grave act that does not help manage the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

The South Korean military heightened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for the possibility of additional launches.

(Video by Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing by Oh Young-taek)