On the 22nd, as North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile for the first time since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office, U.S. Forces Korea issued a position and said on the 23rd that it "urges North Korea to cease its violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions."
U.S. Forces Korea stated accordingly in a written statement that day, saying, "The United States strongly criticizes North Korea's illegal and destabilizing actions." It added, "We are aware that North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles and is relentlessly pursuing long-range missile capabilities," and said, "We are in close consultation with the Republic of Korea and are focused on maintaining readiness to defend both nations' homelands."
It also said, "The U.S. commitment to the South Korea-U.S. alliance is ironclad," adding, "There is no substitute for readiness (to deter North Korea's provocations)."
Earlier that day, North Korea claimed through the Korean Central News Agency that it successfully test-fired two hypersonic glide vehicles from Pyongyang's Yŏkp'o District to Kwesangbong in Orang County, North Hamgyong Province, on the 22nd. If North Korea's announcement is true, they flew about 430 kilometers. North Korea did not disclose the name or specifications of the missile, but it is presumed to be the short-range ballistic missile Hwasong-11ma of the KN-23 series.
North Korea's ballistic missile provocation came one week before U.S. President Donald Trump was scheduled to visit Korea on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.