[Unofficial Translation]

1. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a ballistic missile launch on May 29, which is its ninth such provocation this year. The Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) condemns in the strongest terms this provocative action by the DPRK as it clearly violates relevant UN Security Council resolutions and constitutes a serious threat to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the international community.

2. Such repeated provocations by the DPRK since the inauguration of the new ROK Government are squarely against our call for the denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, and also are in defiance of the united resolve of the international community toward denuclearization of the DPRK that was reaffirmed in the G7 Leaders’ Declaration adopted on May 27. The DPRK should immediately cease all forms of provocation and return to the path toward its denuclearization.

3. The ROK Government will not tolerate any provocations by the DPRK, while sternly responding to the provocations. The ROK Government will also remain steadfast in safeguarding the lives of our people and the security of the nation, maintaining its watertight readiness posture based on the firm basis of ROK-US alliance. /End/