Seoul: South Korea's defense ministry on Saturday "strongly denounced" North Korea's launch of a suspected short-range ballistic missile, urging the North to cease actions that escalate tensions between the two Koreas. "The South's military strongly condemns the recent ballistic missile launch by the North, and expresses deep regret for (the North's) statement denouncing South Korea-U.S. annual exercises and conference," the ministry stated in a press release.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the defense ministry called for North Korea to "immediately halt" all acts that heighten tensions. The statement was issued a day after North Korea launched a suspected short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea, following its warning of measures against recent U.S. sanctions on Pyongyang.

In a related development, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) acknowledged North Korea's missile launch and its pursuit of long-range missile capabilities. The USFK stated, "We are consulting closely with the Republic of Korea. Our focus is on maintaining the readiness required to defend the U.S. homeland and our allies in the region."

Meanwhile, North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol condemned the annual security discussions between South Korea and the United States, describing them as an "intentional" demonstration of the allies' "hostile" nature. No vowed to take "more offensive" actions in response to perceived enemy threats. His comments coincided with the Security Consultative Meeting held by the defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. in Seoul to address key alliance and defense matters.