China on North Korea's Additional Missile Launches: "US Must Create Conditions for Dialogue Resumption"

"Actions Must Reflect No Hostility Toward North Korea"

Mao Ning, Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 9th, China stated regarding North Korea's additional ballistic missile launch that "the United States should create conditions for resuming dialogue by demonstrating through consistent words and actions that it harbors no hostility toward North Korea."

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was asked about North Korea's ballistic missile launch during a regular briefing that day. He said, "We hope all parties on the Korean Peninsula will adhere to the political resolution of the Korean Peninsula issue and address each other's concerns in a balanced manner through dialogue and negotiations."

Spokesperson Mao said that China is monitoring reports on North Korea's ballistic missile launch and added, "We are aware of the ongoing joint military exercises by South Korea, the United States, and Japan around the Korean Peninsula, as well as the statement made by North Korea's Ministry of Defense on the 8th regarding this."

A spokesperson for North Korea's Ministry of Defense stated the previous day, "Currently, the US nuclear aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan strike group is conducting joint maritime maneuver exercises opposing us in international waters of the East Sea near South Korea's puppet navy vessels," describing these movements as "military posturing."

When asked if China has had contact with North Korea, spokesperson Mao replied, "China maintains communication with all parties."

Earlier, on the morning of the 9th, from approximately 1:48 AM to 1:58 AM, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) into the East Sea from the area around Munchon, Gangwon Province (north of Wonsan), one day before the 77th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea (October 10).

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