DPRK, China bolster cooperation amid tensions on Peninsula

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
27 Jan 2024 14:34

In a joint statement, the Chinese Foreign Vice Minister and the DPRK's Foreign Minister affirm the "unswerving stance" of the two countries in maintaining, consolidating, and developing their bilateral ties.

Pyongyang citizens walk past a banner reading "Adorn the 75th birthday of the DPRK and the 70th anniversary of the war victory with high political enthusiasm and shining labor achievements!" in Pyongyang, DPRK, Monday, February 6, 2023. (AP)

The DPRK and China have announced their commitment to enhancing tactical cooperation and defending their shared interests, according to a recent statement issued by the Chinese foreign ministry.

Both nations have agreed to develop their cooperation and bolster strategic communications at all levels. The announcement followed a meeting between Chinese Foreign Vice Minister Sun Weidong and DPRK Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang.

The joint statement reiterated the "unswerving stance" of both sides in maintaining, consolidating, and developing their bilateral ties. The move comes as the DPRK, facing stringent sanctions from the UN Security Council and the United States due to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, seeks to strengthen its ties with its traditional allies, China and Russia, which it takes to be crucial to its diplomatic and economic interests.

The official DPRK news agency, Korean Central News Agency, reported that the two senior officials pledged to strengthen tactical cooperation and defend common interests.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Pyongyang has recently doubled down on its missile test drills amid growing tensions fueled by increased military presence and joint war games involving the US, South Korea, and Japan in the Korean Peninsula.

The geopolitical dynamics in the region have prompted Korean leader Kim Jong-Un to assert that his government is fortifying its military arsenal in anticipation of potential conflicts that could "break out at any time" on the peninsula.

Pyongyang has previously issued warnings about escalating provocations and the looming specter of a "nuclear war," citing the deployment of nuclear-capable bombers by the United States in the region. As these alliances evolve, the international community closely watches the shifting dynamics in East Asia, mindful of the potential implications on regional stability.

Earlier this week, The DPRK announced the completion of its inaugural test for a new era of "strategic" cruise missiles.

The KCNA reported that the Pulhwasal-3-31 missile is currently in the developmental stage, emphasizing that the test launch did not pose any threat to neighboring nations. The term "strategic" generally implies weapons with nuclear capabilities.

Notably, China and Russia, permanent members of the UN Security Council, had previously voted against the DPRK's ballistic missile and nuclear programs. However, since 2017, both nations have refrained from supporting additional sanctions on the Korean Peninsula. Instead, they have advocated for a diplomatic resolution, emphasizing Pyongyang's right to self-defense.

China and Russia have employed their veto powers at the UN Security Council to oppose efforts led by the United States to impose further sanctions on the DPRK, particularly in response to Pyongyang's missile tests.

In a reciprocal gesture, the DPRK has expressed support for Russia in the NATO proxy war in Ukraine, attributing Moscow's military actions to the expanding hegemony of the US-led NATO alliance.