US Department of Defense: "China Focuses on North Korea Collapse and Maintaining Stability in Korean Peninsula Military Conflicts"

"Possibility of Military Intervention in North Korea if the Regime Collapses"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Department of Defense stated that China is focusing on maintaining stability to prevent the collapse of North Korea and military conflicts on the Korean Peninsula.

On the 1st (local time), the U.S. Department of Defense made this assessment regarding the military aspect of North Korea-China relations in its '2020 China Military Power Report' submitted to Congress.

The Department of Defense analyzed, "China's objectives regarding the Korean Peninsula include stability, denuclearization, and the absence of U.S. forces near the Chinese border," adding, "To maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula, China is trying to prevent the collapse of North Korea and military conflicts on the peninsula."

The Department of Defense also explained that to this end, China continues to advocate a dual-track approach that embraces both dialogue and pressure and encourages the resumption of North Korea-U.S. talks.

The Department of Defense mentioned that the Chinese People's Liberation Army is conducting military exercises in preparation for emergencies on the Korean Peninsula, including air, land, sea, and chemical defense training.

In this regard, based on the 1961 Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation signed with North Korea, China is expected to secure the North Korea-China border or intervene militarily in North Korea in the event of refugee inflows caused by the collapse of the North Korean regime.

Regarding recent North Korea-China relations, the Department of Defense assessed that although tensions somewhat increased after China expanded the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions in 2017, relations appeared warm last year.

However, the Department of Defense pointed out that while China enforces sanctions against North Korea in accordance with Security Council resolutions, it has not taken measures against North Korea's illegal ship-to-ship transfers occurring in its territorial waters, nor has it acted against North Korean banks and arms trade representatives headquartered in China.

The Department of Defense explained that Chinese President Xi Jinping met twice with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un last year, complementing many lower-level official exchanges between the two countries. It also reported that the two countries have resumed high-level military diplomacy, including participation in several meetings between senior military officials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.