U.S. State Department: North Korea Missile Launch Raises Concern, Will Be Discussed in China Visit

As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit China on the 24th, Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller announced on the 22nd (local time below) that the North Korea issue is also on the agenda between the two countries.

During the regular briefing that day, he responded to a question asking, “How will the U.S. resolve the issue of North Korea repeatedly launching ballistic and cruise missiles and declaring that all missiles could be equipped with nuclear warheads while China and Russia ignore North Korea’s provocations.”

He said, “First and foremost, we condemn North Korea’s (DPRK) recent ballistic missile launch,” adding, “Like all other ballistic missile launches in recent years, this launch violated U.N. Security Council resolutions.”

“These are a threat to regional and international peace and stability and will be on the agenda when Blinken goes to China,” he added.

On the 20th, the U.S. Department of State announced through a press release that Blinken would visit China from the 24th to the 26th.

“Blinken will meet with Chinese high-ranking officials in Shanghai and Beijing to discuss bilateral, regional, and international issues, including the Middle East crisis, Russia’s war on Ukraine, cross-strait issues, and the South China Sea,” the statement read. It added that this is part of implementing the agreement from the U.S.-China summit last November.

Although Spokesperson Miller announced that the North Korea issue is on the U.S.-China agenda, it seems to be a lower priority.

Meanwhile, China’s Global Times expressed concern on the 23rd that Blinken will warn of punitive measures related to Russia’s arms exports during his visit to China, indicating that the U.S. will intensify pressure on China in advanced technology industries and a wide range of military fields.