South Korea and the US, Seizing North Korea's Missile Launch as an Opportunity to 'Pressure North Korea and China'

[Asia Economy Reporter Inho Yoo] South Korea and the United States have stepped up pressure on North Korea and China regarding North Korea's hypersonic missile launch. The United States appears to be tightening the noose on China together with the international community in response to North Korea's military provocations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 6th (local time), the U.S. Department of State announced that it is closely discussing with its allies follow-up measures related to North Korea's hypersonic missile test launch announcement.

At a briefing that day, State Department spokesperson Ned Price was asked whether the U.S. would push for a United Nations Security Council meeting in response to North Korea's hypersonic missile test launch. He said, "Our commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan remains ironclad, and we will continue to maintain close contact with treaty allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world."

Price condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launch, stating, "This violates multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea," and pointed out, "It poses a threat to North Korea's neighboring countries and the international community." He added, "This is why we urge North Korea to refrain from further provocations and to engage in sustained and substantive dialogue."

North Korea announced on the 6th that the ballistic missile it launched into the East Sea on the 5th, Korea time, was a hypersonic missile that flew 700 km and hit its target.

The Biden administration is pressuring China along with North Korea. On the 6th (local time), Kurt Campbell, U.S. White House Indo-Pacific Coordinator, emphasized that China's cooperation is essential in responding to North Korea.

At a virtual discussion hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a U.S. think tank, Campbell explained, "China's role is essential in negotiations with Iran and North Korea," and added, "The U.S. and China share interests in maintaining non-proliferation norms on the international stage."

Accordingly, attention is focused on whether South Korea and the U.S. will convene a U.N. Security Council meeting and strengthen sanctions against North Korea in response to its military provocations.

Last year, following North Korea's launch of the hypersonic missile Hwasong-8 at the end of September and the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launch in October, the U.S. immediately demanded a U.N. Security Council meeting, which was held twice.

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