S. Korea, US, Japan Condemn N. Korea's Launch of Ballistic Missile

Officials from South Korea, the United States, and Japan condemned North Korea's launch of its first ballistic missile of the year on Monday, saying that such launches threaten peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.

The condemnation came during a phone call between Kim Gunn, South Korea's special representative for peace and security in the Korean Peninsula, his American counterpart, Sung Kim, and his Japanese counterpart, Hiroyuki Namba, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

Officials also pointed out that "the latest launch clearly showed once again that the provocations and illegal threats from North Korea are the root cause of instability in the region," stressing that "with the continuation of provocations, security cooperation between Korea, the United States, Japan, and the international community against North Korea will be stronger."

They also discussed military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, and agreed to closely monitor trends in military cooperation between the two countries.

The officials' condemnation of North Korea's launch comes as tensions in the region remain high. North Korea has been conducting a series of missile tests in recent months, including a long-range missile that could potentially reach the United States. The launches have raised concerns about North Korea's intentions and its commitment to denuclearization.