South Koreans watch North Korea’s missile launch on television on Oct. 31, 2019.
North Korea launched at least two ballistic missiles on Oct. 25 after Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchanged messages. It was the first test launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea since the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden. In addition, high-level U.S.-China diplomatic talks have just broken up in an unhappy manner, and North Korea, the little brother of the Chinese Communist Party, launched missiles at this sensitive Time, releasing a provocative signal to the Biden Administration.
A U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles from its east coast that landed in the Sea of Japan on the morning of March 25, local time.
South Korea’s Joint Staff Headquarters (JCS) reported that at least two “unidentified missiles” were launched into the sea from North Hamgyong Province on North Korea’s east coast. South Korean and U.S. intelligence services are analyzing data from the North Korean missile launches for more information.
In a statement, JCS said, “The South Korean military is working closely with the United States to enhance surveillance and maintain operational readiness.”
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga confirmed that North Korea launched two ballistic missiles that landed outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. He warned that the test launches posed a threat to security and peace in the region.
Suga said he will “thoroughly discuss” the North Korean issue when he meets with Biden during his visit to the United States next month.
In addition, according to Yonhap News Agency, some South Korean military sources said that if North Korea launches a ballistic missile, regardless of the range, it would violate the UN Security Council’s sanctions resolution against North Korea.
North Korea’s missile launch was seen as a provocative move against the Biden administration, but Washington has tried to downplay the impact of the incident. Over the weekend, North Korea launched two short-range cruise missiles after the first talks between top U.S. and Chinese officials. It was the first public weapons test by North Korea since Biden took office.
But Biden told media reporters that the test launches were “normal” according to the Pentagon’s assessment. Washington remains open to dialogue with Pyongyang.
However, just as the U.S. was trying to downplay the North Korean situation, North Korea escalated its provocations by testing a ballistic missile again, putting U.S.-North Korea relations back on edge. North Korea’s last missile test-launch was in April 2020.
It is worth noting that on the eve of North Korea’s test launch of a ballistic missile, Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchanged a message on March 22. Xi told Kim Jong Un that the current international and regional situation has evolved profoundly due to the overlapping effects of the century-old changes and the Epidemic of the century. China is willing to work with the DPRK and relevant parties to adhere to the direction of political settlement of the peninsula issue and maintain peace and stability on the peninsula.
For his part, Kim Jong-un said the DPRK is convinced that the DPRK-China friendly relations will be sublimely developed in accordance with the requirements of the times and the aspirations, wishes and fundamental interests of the two peoples.
The two men’s messages were conveyed by the Communist Party’s Foreign Liaison Minister Song Tao and DPRK Ambassador to China Ri Ryong Nam, respectively. Song Tao and Ri Ryong Nam met in Beijing on the same day.
Current affairs commentator Qin Peng analyzed the timing of North Korea’s missile test launch as sensitive, releasing a signal to provoke the Biden administration and at the same time to draw closer to the Chinese Communist Party. North Korea is dependent on the CCP in many ways, and Biden has not shown much interest in North Korea since coming to power, forcing North Korea to draw closer to the CCP again.
For years, the CCP used North Korea as a card to play against the U.S., until it became nearly defunct after former U.S. President Donald Trump met with Kim Jong Un three times.
However, after Biden took power, Xi Jinping began to “level the playing field”. At the recent talks between the U.S. and China in Alaska, Chinese diplomats performed a rare battle wolf act in front of the U.S. secretary of state, showing the Biden administration’s weakness. And North Korea’s back-to-back missile test launches after the talks are seen as largely in line with the Chinese Communist Party and provoking the United States.
Currently, the United States is joining allies in Xinjiang and other Chinese human rights issues, additional sanctions against the Chinese Communist Party. Senior U.S. officials said on the 24th, the Biden administration’s policy review of North Korea is in the “final stages” and will be discussed next week when they receive the national security advisers of Japan and South Korea.
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