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South Korean and US foreign and defense ministers spoke on the phone one after another yesterday (25th) and decided to respond strongly to North Korea's missile provocation.

However, the U.S. State Department said that there was no change in its position on humanitarian aid in relation to the spread of Corona in North Korea.



Correspondent Park Won-kyung.



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Foreign Minister Park Jin had a phone call with Secretary of State Tony Blincoln and strongly condemned North Korea's missile launch.



The foreign ministers of the two countries criticized North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile and ICBM launch, which violates UN Security Council resolutions and seriously threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the international community.



The South Korean and US foreign ministers also spoke separately with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi, respectively, and it is said that they reaffirmed the importance of triangular cooperation between the United States and Japan in response to the North Korean threat.



The defense ministers of the Republic of Korea and the United States also had a phone call and discussed the direction of the response.



The two Ministers agreed to strengthen the ROK-U.S. combined defense posture and the U.S. extended deterrence, and to respond strongly to any provocations from North Korea in the future.



In particular, Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop emphasized the need to develop US strategic assets in preparation for further North Korean provocations and to hold the Extended Deterrence Strategy Council early.



It is reported that the UN Security Council is expected to vote on additional US sanctions against North Korea within a few days.



The US State Department condemned North Korea's missile provocations, but reaffirmed its humanitarian aid policy.



[Mark Lambert / Assistant Secretary of State for the United States: The United States has not changed its position despite North Korea's recent escalating tensions.

We will continue to support humanitarian aid and relief supplies related to COVID-19.]



The South Korean government also said that North Korea's missile provocations are separate from humanitarian aid for North Koreans.