[Financial News] Cheong Wa Dae immediately held an "Emergency Security Situation Review Meeting" with relevant agencies, including the Ministry of National Defense and the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (ROK JCS), after North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea from the Wonsan area on the 12th. At the meeting convened immediately after North Korea's ballistic missile launch, the Office of National Security (ONS) analyzed and assessed its potential impact on South Korea's security. It also reviewed and directed the military's response and the necessary follow-up measures, while emphasizing the need to maintain full readiness. The ONS particularly stressed that North Korea's ballistic missile launch was a grave act that violated United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and called on North Korea to halt such launches immediately. The ROK JCS said that the South Korean military detected several ballistic missiles launched toward the East Sea from the Wonsan area at around 5:20 a.m. It emphasized, "The South Korean military has strengthened surveillance and vigilance in preparation for additional launches, while South Korea, the United States and Japan are closely sharing information related to North Korean ballistic missiles and maintaining full readiness." The latest launch is believed to have been in protest against the Freedom Edge military exercise conducted by South Korea, the United States and Japan over five days from the 7th through the 11th in international waters east and south of Jeju Province. It was North Korea's first ballistic missile launch in 23 days, following the previous launch on the 20th of last month. [email protected] Choi Jong-geun Reporter