South Korea and U.S. "Strong response to North Korean missile provocations"... Humanitarian aid continues

<Anchor>

We had a phone call with the US and South Korean foreign and defense ministers yesterday (25th) and decided to respond strongly to North Korea's missile provocations.

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.

<Reporter>

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.

They also agreed to work closely with the UN Security Council so that the new sanctions resolution on North Korea can be adopted as soon as possible.

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.

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

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Korea and Japan Mark Lambert said the United States has always separated the issues of humanitarian aid and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and strongly supports international relief efforts in response to the COVID-19 situation in North Korea.

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