U.S. condemns latest N.K. missile launches

WASHINGTON, July 1 (Yonhap) -- The United States on Monday condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches this week, reaffirming its "ironclad" security commitment to South Korea. On Monday Morning (Korea time), the North fired two ballistic missiles with one of the launches having possibly ended in failure, according to the South Korean military. "The United States condemns the DPRK's June 30 ballistic missile launches (Washington time)," a State Department spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea "These launches, like all the DPRK's other ballistic missile launches in recent years, are in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. They pose a threat to regional and international peace and security and undermine the global nonproliferation regime," the spokesperson added. The official also stressed close coordination with allies to deal with the North's provocative acts. "W e continue to consult closely with our allies and partners about how best to deter DPRK aggression and coordinate international responses to the DPRK's violations of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions," the official said. "Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan is ironclad." The launch came a day after the North's foreign ministry denounced a joint naval exercise between South Korea, the United States and Japan, saying the country would take "offensive and overwhelming" countermeasures against what it called an attempt to strengthen a military bloc. The three countries conducted the first trilateral Freedom Edge exercise in international waters south of South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju last week. Source: Yonhap News Agency