Within 12 hours, the DPRK launched two missiles in succession, and the reaction of the United States, Japan, and South Korea was not small, and some experts frankly admitted that the range of the DPRK's missiles could already cover the entire United States. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said eight words in front of the DPRK Vice Foreign Minister.
It is reported that on the evening of the 17th, after the DPRK launched a short-range ballistic missile in the Pyongyang area, less than 12 hours later, the DPRK launched another ballistic missile into the eastern waters of the peninsula with a "high-ballistic orbit". After flying for 73 minutes, the missile landed in the Sea of Japan, about 250 kilometers west of Okushiri Island in Hokkaido.
Both Japan and South Korea are closely following North Korea's successive missile launches. Shingo Miyake, vice minister of the Japanese Ministry of Defense, said that the missile launched by North Korea on the 18th flew at an altitude of more than 6,000 kilometers, so Japan speculated that this was the third time that North Korea tested the new solid-fuel "Hwasong-18" intercontinental ballistic missile, and the South Korean military also came to the same conclusion.
In addition, Shingo Miyake also said that based on the missile's trajectory and warhead weight, its range is likely to exceed 15,000 kilometers, which is enough to cover the entire territory of the United States. But other experts point out that North Korea must keep the missile on a steady trajectory before it can hit the United States.
In response, the United States, Japan, and South Korea have all reacted strongly. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the chief representatives of the United States, Japan, and South Korea on the North Korean nuclear issue had immediately held a telephone conference and strongly condemned North Korea's missile launch, and the three sides bluntly said that North Korea's move was a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
At the same time, the United States, Japan and South Korea have also decided to cooperate more closely in the future. In addition, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command reaffirmed its defense support for Japan and South Korea. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also said at a press conference that they had lodged a strong protest with the DPRK through the embassy in China.
It can be seen that the situation on the Korean Peninsula continues to escalate. Of course, North Korea's two missiles in quick succession this time are also in response to the recent provocations of the United States and South Korea. Last week, the United States and South Korea held the second meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group in Washington, D.C., and the two countries accelerated progress toward the implementation of the Nuclear Strategic Guidelines.
ROK Defense Minister Shin Won-hyun also held talks with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and the two sides reached a consensus on continuing to strengthen military cooperation. In addition, the United States and South Korea have publicly called on North Korea to end Kim Jong-un's regime if peace on the peninsula is undermined. Not only that, in the past two days, the US Navy's Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine "Missouri" has also arrived at the Naval Operational Base in Busan, South Korea, which is only 550 kilometers away from Pyongyang.
Obviously, under this series of operations by the United States and South Korea, the DPRK has been greatly stimulated. Therefore, North Korea's missile launch this time is a demonstration against the United States and South Korea. A spokesman for the DPRK Ministry of National Defense also openly stated that the United States and South Korea have been continuously deploying nuclear strike means and frequently conducting large-scale joint military exercises throughout this year, causing the situation on the peninsula to become increasingly tense.
Now, the United States and South Korea intend to end it with a nuclear war Xi. In the face of any attempt by a hostile force to use nuclear weapons, North Korea responds with a preemptive and devastating strike. Under the manipulation of the United States and South Korea, North Korea has also launched missiles more and more frequently, which has also improved North Korea's missile launch technology a lot.
However, the United States, Japan, and South Korea continue to huddle together to keep warm, shifting all the blame to North Korea, but not saying a word about their own actions. As a result, the arms race on the peninsula has intensified, and the risk of conflict has increased significantly. It is worth mentioning that at this juncture, the DPRK also sent a high-level visit to China.
It has been learned that in the past two days, DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myung-ho has arrived in Beijing to hold talks with Sun Weidong, vice minister of foreign affairs of the mainland. Immediately afterwards, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also came forward to meet with Park Myung-ho. At this sensitive period, the DPRK sent high-level officials to visit China for the purpose of further exchanges with China on the Korean Peninsula issue.
Wang Yi also said eight words on this matter in person this time. Wang Yi said that in the face of the ever-changing international situation, China and the DPRK should always firmly support and trust each other. Obviously, Wang Yi's remarks are also a confession to North Korea, indicating that the relationship between China and North Korea will not be affected by external forces.
In addition, China and the DPRK also decided to continue to strengthen strategic communication and coordination, continue to deepen cooperation between the two countries, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. It can be seen that after the United States, Japan, and South Korea increase cooperation, the situation on the peninsula will become more complicated, and the DPRK urgently needs to carry out more cooperation with neighboring countries in order to better respond to the provocations of the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
However, China has long stated that the best way to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue is for all parties to adopt dialogue and communication, so as to avoid miscalculations and reduce differences. If the United States and South Korea insist on going their own way, it will only lead to the situation developing in an uncontrollable direction. At that time, it will also bring unbearable consequences to South Korea.