Moon Jae-in urges army to beef up after N. Korea's provocations

SEOUL - 15 September 2017: South Korea's President Moon Jae-in on Friday directed the south's army to further beef up its defense capabilities to cope with North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.

Moon made the remark during a National Security Council meeting he presided over after the North fired a ballistic missile over Japan again earlier in the day.

Dialogue with the communist nation is impossible amid such violations and provocations, reported Yonhap news agency, quoting Moon as saying.

Moon affirmed that the South is capable of destroying the North beyond recovery.

"I hope the people will trust the government's determination and efforts, and go about their lives without wavering", Moon stated.

Moon pointed out that international sanctions and pressure will further tighten to force North Korea to choose no other option but to step forward on the path to genuine dialogue.

Moon also instructed the government to work with the international community to examine all diplomatic means so as to get Pyongyang to give up its nuclear and missile programs.

North Korea has launched on Friday an intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew over Japan before landing in the northern Pacific Ocean for the second time in the past few weeks.