By Alex Jensen
SEOUL
South Korean President Park Geun-hye admitted Tuesday that North Korea’s first known ballistic missile test from a submarine poses a “serious challenge."
Her assessment of last week’s North Korean military breakthrough echoed words from Seoul’s defense ministry a day earlier.
But in an unusual move, Park also responded by convening the first meeting of South Korea’s leading security officials in a year.
The president called for a sturdy defensive posture alongside the country’s military ally the United States and warned North Korea of a “strong retaliation” to any provocations, according to her spokesperson in a statement.
It remains to be seen whether Seoul will push for further sanctions against Pyongyang at the United Nations Security Council - the North’s submarine-launched ballistic missile test violated several U.N. resolutions.
Certainly the matter will be on the agenda when U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry holds talks in Seoul next week - South Korea’s foreign ministry confirmed as much during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Kerry’s first visit in 15 months also comes amid continued speculation over whether an American missile defense system known as THAAD will be deployed on the Korean Peninsula.
Despite local opposition to strengthening U.S. military influence in the South and objections from the likes of China and Russia, North Korea’s developing missile technology may provide THAAD supporters with political momentum.
North Korea’s traditional ally China had urged “all relevant parties” to ease tensions on Monday via Beijing’s foreign ministry.
