U.S., South Korea, and Japan Discuss North Korea's Missile Launch

South Korea, the United States, and Japan held a phone call on September 21 to share information and discuss response measures regarding North Korea's recent ballistic missile launch.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Baek Yong-jin, director of the Korean Peninsula Policy Office, spoke with David Wilezol, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Japan and Korea, and Takashi Ariyoshi, a senior official at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Asia and Oceania. The discussions were prompted by North Korea's launch of ballistic missiles the previous day.

The Ministry explained that the three countries maintain a communication channel to quickly share relevant information and assessments each time North Korea conducts a ballistic missile launch.

On September 20, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles off the coast of Wonsan in Gangwon Province. The missiles reportedly flew approximately 450 kilometers and 600 kilometers, respectively.

The three nations had previously conducted phone consultations following North Korea's ballistic missile launch last month. On August 12, after North Korea launched a missile from the Wonsan area, the three countries shared information and discussed response strategies. At that time, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the three nations urged North Korea to cease provocations and reaffirmed their close cooperation.

On August 20, when North Korea launched over ten short-range ballistic missiles near Pyongyang, the three countries also shared information and discussed response measures the following day.