The North Korean Missile Issue: 'South Korea-US-Japan VS North Korea-China-Russia' Confrontation Structure

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Since the beginning of the new year, North Korea's three missile launches have created a confrontation structure between the three countries of South Korea, the United States, and Japan, and the three countries of North Korea, China, and Russia.

Centered on the United States, there are calls for strengthening sanctions against North Korea as well as discussions on the roles of China and Russia in response to North Korea's successive missile launches. In response, China and Russia oppose the strengthening of sanctions against North Korea and strongly reject the U.S. claims.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to diplomatic sources on the 15th, the Joe Biden administration in the United States condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches again on the 14th (local time) but stated that it still prioritizes diplomatic solutions.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said, “The United States condemns North Korea's ballistic missile launches,” adding, “The missile launches violate multiple UN Security Council resolutions and pose a threat to neighboring countries and the international community.” He continued, “We will continue our diplomatic approach toward North Korea and demand that they engage in dialogue.” He also added, “Our commitment to the security of South Korea and Japan is ironclad.”

This is interpreted as the need for cooperation among the three countries of South Korea, the United States, and Japan in the strategy to respond to North Korea's missile provocations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken appeared on MSNBC the previous day and said, “We have made it clear that we are ready to engage with North Korea without preconditions,” adding, “Unfortunately, North Korea has not responded to such an offer and has conducted new missile tests in recent weeks.”

Blinken emphasized, “This seriously undermines stability and violates the entire UN Security Council resolutions,” and said, “We are very focused on ensuring that there are consequences and corresponding results for North Korea's actions.”

Shortly after North Korea's second missile test launch this year, the United States imposed sanctions on six North Korean nationals and one Russian national, as well as one Russian organization, involved in North Korea's development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs.

In response, Russia strongly opposed the inclusion of Russian nationals and companies along with North Koreans in the sanctions list for involvement in North Korea's WMD and ballistic missile program development.

Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, criticized in an official statement posted on the Foreign Ministry's website on the 14th (local time), saying, “The U.S. State Department's announcement that Russian national R.A. Alar and Russian company Parsek played a key role in supplying parts and technology for all of North Korea's missile programs is absolutely unacceptable and intolerable in terms of international contact culture.”

Zakharova claimed, “The United States does not bother to find evidence itself, replaces facts with fabricated stories, and is spreading baseless and unreasonable accusations that Russia supports North Korea's nuclear and missile program development.” The Russian Foreign Ministry's statement came two days after the U.S. announced the sanctions list.

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