Pyongyang has carried out another missile test, only days after President Moon Jae-in took office last week saying that he was ready to go to Pyongyang under the "right conditions." North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile early Sunday morning.
There was a lot of concern among Korean voters about Moon's view of North Korea. Many people were also worried that he may be too soft on it. But Moon dispelled such concerns with the way he dealt with Pyongyang's first provocation since he took office.
The president promptly called a National Security Council session at Cheong Wa Dae and strongly condemned the missile test, calling it a "grave threat" to regional security and a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The latest provocation came only about two weeks since a missile launch on April 29 which was considered a failure. It is highly regrettable that North Korea is choosing to continue its military provocations even when Korea and the U.S. have signaled that their new presidents are willing to pursue a dialogue with them.
U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that he would be "honored" to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un under the "right circumstances." President Moon has continued to say that he would be willing to talk with North Korea. His nominee for the head of the National Intelligence Service Suh Hoon even said last week that an inter-Korean summit was necessary.
The missile test shows that it is premature to restart talks with North Korea. Inter-Korean relations were severely strained during the 10 years of conservative rule under Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Many Koreans wish to see better relations between the two Koreas. But Seoul should not resume dialogue with Pyongyang unless North Korea responds to the international call to freeze its nuclear and missile programs.
There was a lot of concern among Korean voters about Moon's view of North Korea. Many people were also worried that he may be too soft on it. But Moon dispelled such concerns with the way he dealt with Pyongyang's first provocation since he took office.
The president promptly called a National Security Council session at Cheong Wa Dae and strongly condemned the missile test, calling it a "grave threat" to regional security and a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
The latest provocation came only about two weeks since a missile launch on April 29 which was considered a failure. It is highly regrettable that North Korea is choosing to continue its military provocations even when Korea and the U.S. have signaled that their new presidents are willing to pursue a dialogue with them.
U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that he would be "honored" to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un under the "right circumstances." President Moon has continued to say that he would be willing to talk with North Korea. His nominee for the head of the National Intelligence Service Suh Hoon even said last week that an inter-Korean summit was necessary.
The missile test shows that it is premature to restart talks with North Korea. Inter-Korean relations were severely strained during the 10 years of conservative rule under Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. Many Koreans wish to see better relations between the two Koreas. But Seoul should not resume dialogue with Pyongyang unless North Korea responds to the international call to freeze its nuclear and missile programs.
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