North Korea's Hypersonic IRBM Launch... China Says "Peace Must Be Maintained Through Dialogue"

The Missile Command of North Korea successfully conducted a test launch of a medium-to-long-range solid-fuel ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic maneuverable guided warhead on the afternoon of the 14th, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 15th. From the left, images show the solid-fuel propelled hypersonic missile launched on January 14, 2024, and the liquid-fuel propelled hypersonic test launches from January 2022 and September 2021. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding North Korea's announcement of a successful test launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) using a new solid-fuel propulsion system, China expressed a principled stance that peace must be maintained through dialogue.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing on the 15th in response to related questions, "We hope that the relevant parties will clearly recognize the root causes of the Korean Peninsula issue and promote the political resolution process of the Peninsula issue through dialogue and negotiations to maintain peace and stability on the Peninsula."

North Korea's Korean Central News Agency reported on the same day that it had successfully conducted a test launch the previous day of a solid-fuel-based intermediate-range ballistic missile equipped with a "hypersonic maneuverable guided warhead."

The ballistic missile launched by North Korea was understood to have flown at a speed exceeding 10 times the speed of sound (12,350 km/h at 20 degrees Celsius). This has further heightened concerns about the enhancement of North Korea's military capabilities.

China has consistently maintained the position that the fundamental problem lies in the neglect of the situation by parties involved in the Korean Peninsula issue, including the United States, whenever North Korea conducts provocations such as missile launches.