The National Security Council(NSC) of the South Korean presidential office has urged North Korea to stop heightening tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Presidential Spokesman Park Soo-hyun said in a media briefing that the NSC sent the message to the North during a two-hour standing committee meeting on Thursday afternoon.

Park said the standing committee meeting lasted longer than usual as the participants, including National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong, held in-depth discussions on the security situations that have become grave due to the North’s continuous provocations and threats.

During the meeting, the NSC members reached consensus that escalating military tension or military conflict on the peninsula helps no concerned parties.

They also decided to take every necessary measure to ease tension and manage peace on the Korean Peninsula based on a strong defense posture by the South Korea-U.S. alliance and in cooperation with other major countries.