At the beginning of the new year, the DPRK sent a "big gift" to South Korea, sending more than 200 shells in the direction of the two South Korean islands. One of these islands is Yeonpyeongdo, an island that was attacked in 2010 and is located 80 kilometers west of Incheon and 12 kilometers north of Hwanghae Province in South Korea. Amid the shelling, a spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry said that the United States and South Korea are closely following the development of the situation.
North Korea has repeatedly warned that it will respond to provocative actions by the United States and South Korea. On Jan. 4, the United States and South Korea conducted a joint exercise near the North Korean border to bolster their joint combat capabilities. The drill was conducted in a border town 46 kilometers northeast of Seoul and involved a total of 110 pieces of military equipment, including K1A2 tanks and A-19 aircraft. The South Korean Navy had also conducted live firing in the eastern, western and southern parts of the country the day before, with submarines, destroyers and frigates all involved in the exercises.
North Korea's launch of artillery shells at South Korea this time can be said to be a powerful response to the US-South Korea military exercises, demonstrating their determination to defend the United States and not be afraid of power. North Korea called the joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises a "reckless military provocation" aimed at supporting "Washington's hegemonic ambitions" and bringing the peninsula to the brink of war. The large-scale military exercises between the United States and South Korea have further aggravated tensions on the peninsula.
It is worth noting that when North Korea shelled South Korean islands, South Korea's ** Yoon Suk-yeol made a shocking statement when inspecting the frontline troops: "When the enemy attacks, immediately counterattack and then report." Such a statement will undoubtedly turn the situation on the peninsula in the direction of confrontation. Intelligence from South Korea's National Intelligence Agency also said North Korea was likely to launch a strategic provocation early next year.
After the North Korean shelled the islands, the South Korean side quickly responded. They issued an emergency evacuation order to about 2,000 local residents living on Bailing Island and Yeonpyeong Island, asking them to evacuate as soon as possible to avoid being attacked by artillery shells. South Korea's response was swift and orderly, and residents were immediately ordered to carry out effective evacuation operations, with no reports of personnel** for the time being.
The tension on the Korean Peninsula is not just the result of chance, but there are a series of reasons behind it. Among them, the strategic provocation of the United States is one of the main ones. On the one hand, the United States wants to create chaos in the peninsula region in order to reap the benefits of war from it. North Korea has always been viewed as a strategic enemy by the United States, and the United States has been looking for opportunities to respond to North Korea. The U.S.-South Korean military exercises led directly to North Korea's artillery strikes.
On the other hand, the United States is trying to contain the strategic attention of China and Russia and redeploy in Northeast Asia. The security of the peninsula region has a bearing on the strategic interests of China and Russia, and China and Russia will not sit idly by. And the provocative actions of the United States in the peninsula will attract the strategic energy of China and Russia and force them to take corresponding countermeasures. North Korea is backed by China and Russia, which has become their strategic gateway, and China and Russia will never allow U.S. interference. The DPRK itself also has a strong strategic counterattack capability, and if the United States insists on going its own way, it is believed that the DPRK will retaliate more violently. In order to maintain strategic security, China and Russia may take some measures to maintain long-term peace and stability in the peninsula region.
The incident in which North Korea fired artillery shells at South Korea once again reminds us of the extremely tense and unstable situation on the peninsula. Whether it is the strategic provocation of the United States or the counterattack of the DPRK, the peninsula is filled with the shadow of war.
However, as neighbors and major stakeholders of the Korean Peninsula, China and Russia shoulder important responsibilities in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. We should strive to reduce tensions through peaceful dialogue and avoid conflict and war. After all, any war is not a real solution to the problem, and will only bring greater suffering and disaster to the peninsula region and the world.
As a major country with peaceful development, China has always advocated the settlement of disputes through dialogue and negotiation, and advocated the concept of peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit. We should actively participate in the settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue, play a constructive role, and make our own contribution to regional peace and stability.
Finally, we hope that all parties in the peninsula region will remain calm and reasonable, resolve differences through peaceful means, and jointly create a stable and harmonious regional environment. Only in this way can the peninsula achieve true peace and prosperity and the people can live and work in peace and contentment.