The Security Council met again and conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test in response to North Korea, which triggered joint condemnation from 10 countries, including the United States and South Korea. At this meeting, representatives of the DPRK clashed fiercely with the United States, South Korea and their allies. The deputy permanent representative of the United States to the United Nations read a joint statement before the meeting condemning North Korea's test of an intercontinental ballistic missile and all previous similar actions.
North Korean representative Kim Sung said at the meeting that this year is the "most dangerous year" for military security on the peninsula, specifically mentioning actions such as the intensification of military exercises by the United States and South Korea and the deployment of nuclear-powered submarines by the United States to the region, which he believes have increased the risk of nuclear war.
It is reported that North Korea has conducted two missile test launches in the past two days. The first test launch occurred at 22:38 on the evening of the 17th, when North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile into the eastern waters of the peninsula, flew 570 kilometers and crashed into the sea. Then, in the early morning of the 18th, North Korea again tested the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, and the two test launches were only a few hours apart.
North Korea's frequent missile tests have sparked speculation that they may be a response to the U.S. nuclear submarine's docking in Busan. The series of tests came just days before North Korea's ICBM test, which comes after the United States and South Korea held a second meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group and said it planned to develop nuclear strategic guidelines, establish a so-called "extended deterrence" system by the middle of next year, and plan to conduct nuclear combat exercises during joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea.
Subsequently, the US Navy's Virginia-class nuclear submarine "Missouri" arrived at the port of Busan, South Korea, on the 17th. The U.S.-South Korea joint statement declared that any nuclear attack against the United States and its allies would not be tolerated, and these actions undoubtedly sent a highly provocative signal to attempt a nuclear deterrent against North Korea. A spokesman for North Korea's Ministry of National Defense said in a statement that the move by the United States and South Korea was a "blatant declaration of nuclear confrontation."
Against this background, North Korea's test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile can be seen as a tough response to the provocative actions of the United States and South Korea. In the face of the continued nuclear deterrence policy of the United States and South Korea, Kim Jong-un also recently mentioned North Korea's nuclear option. At a meeting with the "Hwasong-18" ICBM launch trainers on the 18th, he said that the missile launch clearly shows the DPRK's position: If the enemy provokes with nuclear weapons, the DPRK will not hesitate to make a nuclear counterattack.
At the same time, Kim Jong Un stressed that defending national dignity, national interests and rights requires strong support. Only when we have the ability to make any enemy fearful, carry out preemptive attacks anytime and anywhere, and have a high degree of vigilance, can we truly have national defense strength and consolidate and maintain peace.
The root cause of the current deterioration of the situation on the Korean Peninsula is very obvious, mainly because the United States and South Korea have ignored the denuclearization measures that the DPRK has already implemented, and instead continue to strengthen sanctions and pressure on the DPRK, resulting in the escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The intention of the United States is obvious, trying to use the Korean Peninsula issue as a bargaining chip in its so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy" and contain China by stirring up the situation on the peninsula.
In view of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, China has proposed a clear way to solve the problem. At a recent meeting of the UN Security Council, China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Geng Shuang, stressed that it is imperative for all parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, work together to reduce tensions, and create the necessary conditions for the resumption of dialogue. He pointed out that dialogue and negotiation are the fundamental way to resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. Some countries should face up to the core crux of the Korean Peninsula issue, abandon the erroneous idea of exerting military pressure, conscientiously practice the "unconditional dialogue" proposed, and promote the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue through concrete actions, so as to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.