“Korean Central News Agency” reported on the 25th that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un personally supervised the successful test launch of the “Hwasong-17” intercontinental missile on the 24th. Figure: Reprinted from the Korean Central News Agency (file photo)
North Korea launched the Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on the 24th, with a range covering the eastern United States, the most powerful missile the country has launched since 2017. In this regard, the “Voice of America” also unified the international community and China’s response to this incident.
The report pointed out that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un went to the scene on the 24th to watch the test launch of the “Hwasong-17” and declared that “will continue to develop nuclear war deterrence while confronting the United States for a long time.”
In response, the United Nations publicly condemned North Korea on the day of the test, while South Korea responded with ballistic missiles and air-to-surface missiles, the first such action since 2017. U.S. President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned North Korea at the G7 summit.
Fumio Kishida criticized the launch as “heinous”, and Japanese Defense Minister Makoto Oniki even rebuked, “As the world responds to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, North Korea is pushing for a launch that unilaterally intensifies its provocation against the international community. This is absolutely inexcusable. .”
However, unlike the international condemnation of North Korea, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, when asked about China’s position, only said, “I hope all parties will focus on the overall situation of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, stick to the right direction of dialogue and negotiation, and push for a political solution to the Peninsula issue. Process.”
The report pointed out that on November 29, 2017, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang presided over a regular press conference and said during the test of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile that day, “China expresses serious concern and opposition, and strongly urges North Korea to abide by the Security Council. Relevant resolutions.” On July 4, 2017, Geng Shuang said about North Korea’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile that day, “China opposes North Korea’s launch activities in violation of Security Council resolutions, and urges the DPRK to stop violating the resolutions.”
Compared with past years when North Korea conducted ICBM tests, the Chinese side responded with the words “China expresses serious concern”, “China opposes” and “strongly urges North Korea to abide by the Security Council agreement”, but this time Wang Wenbin completely avoided it. The above-mentioned words are not even mentioned directly, and there is a suspicion of blurring the focus.