South Korea's intel agency says, the projectiles that North Korea launched into the sea last week... are not seen as provocative.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
South Korea's National Intelligence Service says the short-range projectiles North Korea fired last week appear to have been ground-to-ground weapons.
While the agency didn't specify the type of the projectiles,... it said the firing was not provocative.
It added such a move suggests the regime does not want to walk away from the negotiating table,... but is keen to put pressure on Washington.
"It looks like North Korea is adjusting the level of its message to the U.S. Part of the regime's post-launch statement which said, "when its autonomy, dignity and right to existence are at risk, it will carry out counterattack with no tolerance" has been deleted from the English translation."
South Korea's defense minister met with the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Robert Abrams on Monday to discuss the North's latest move and to reaffirm the close coordination between Seoul and Washington.
However, South Korean lawmakers have differing views on the North's latest military activity.
The main opposition Liberty Korea Party came down hard on the Moon Administration and the ruling party for what it labeled as a wishy-washy response.
"The Moon Administration's two-years of unwavering one-way love toward North Korea was answered through the firing of a new type of missile."
The ruling Democratic Party urged the Liberty Korea Party to stop such criticism,... explaining the North's latest move is seen not as a provocation but as a gesture for further dialogue.
"I'm not sure whether the Liberty Korea Party and its leader Hwang Kyo-ahn are insisting on returning to the failed North Korea policy of the past."
The political argument is likely to persist,... as the parties continue to frame their analysis of the North's latest projectile launches.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.