South Korea’s President observed a live-fire test launch of the Hyunmoo-2 indigenously produced ballistic missile at 10.30 this morning, the Blue House said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

The launch took place approximately 130 kilometers southwest of Seoul at Anheung, near Taean in South Chungcheong Province.

The test was essential to ensuring that South Korea had the “readiness” to counter Pyongyang’s developing missile and nuclear programs, the Blue House said, and to “gravely warn” Pyongyang not to carry out further provocations.

“As the North Korean missile provocations have continued and advance, our national people and I as a president have been