Hong Kong. January 30. INTERFAX - North Korea has taken a step towards renouncing its obligations not to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) by launching the first medium-range ICBM since 2017 on Sunday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said.
"North Korea has so far observed a moratorium on nuclear tests and ICBM launches, expressing readiness for dialogue. But if it really fired a medium-range ballistic missile, we can assume that they are closer to lifting the moratorium," South Korean media quoted Moon Jae-in's statement at a meeting of the country's National Security Council (NSC) held on his initiative.
According to the South Korean president, the current missile launch was "a challenge to the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and the diplomatic efforts of the international community, as well as an act violating UN Security Council resolutions."
He called on North Korea to stop creating tension and respond to international calls for dialogue.
The Indo-Pacific Command of the US Armed Forces said after Sunday's launch that Washington "condemns these actions and calls on (North Korea) to refrain from further destabilizing actions."
At the same time, the command acknowledged that the current missile launch did not pose a threat to the United States and its allies.
In turn, the Japanese government also condemned the launch.
As reported, on Sunday, North Korea launched an unidentified projectile towards the Eastern Sea. According to military experts, the projectile was a ballistic missile. This launch was the seventh by the DPRK in 2022.
Secretary General of the Japanese Cabinet of Ministers Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters that, according to Japanese military experts, the missile, having flown 800 km at an altitude of 2 km, fell outside the exclusive economic zone of Japan.
