VIENTIANE, Laos– President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye jointly condemned Tuesday the recent firing of three ballistic missiles by North Korea, promising “more effective” sanctions against the country.
Obama — who noted that the recent launch took place while China was hosting the G20 Summit — said the two leaders had “extensive” discussions over the incident and added the two nations are “united in condemning North Korea’s continued missile launches.”
“We are going to work together to ensure that we are closing loopholes and making them more effective,” Obama said speaking of sanctions against North Korea after meeting with Park in Laos.
“And President Park and I agree that the entire international community needs to implement these sanctions fully and hold North Korea accountable. North Korea needs to know that provocations will only invite more pressure and further deepen its isolation.”
Park also condemned the launches calling them “fundamentally threatening” and said the two had agreed to “respond resolutely” to any provocation.
“I send a stern warning that the continuation of such reckless provocations will lead North Korea down the path of self-destruction,” Park said.
Park described the relationship between her country and the US as “rock solid.”
Park also said that she and Obama have agreed to enhance combined defense capabilities to include the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.
South Korea in July announced the deployment of the advanced anti-missile system in the southern part of the country.
