China News Service, February 20th (Sweet) In the past two days, North Korea has conducted intercontinental ballistic missile launch training and long-range artillery rocket launch training.
Kim Yo Jong, vice minister of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, made statements for two consecutive days, condemning the US military's recent strategic strikes on the Korean peninsula and saying that there is still no intention of dialogue with South Korea.
At the same time, South Korea conducted joint air drills with the United States and announced sanctions on personnel and institutions related to North Korea's nuclear and missile development.
North Korea conducts intercontinental ballistic missile launch training.
Image source: KCNA
North Korea launches ICBM
South Korea and the United States conduct joint air drills
On the afternoon of February 18, North Korea launched a "Hwasong Gun-15" intercontinental ballistic missile from a high angle at Pyongyang International Airport.
The Korean Central News Agency stated that the launch was organized in accordance with the emergency fire preparation instructions issued in the early morning of the same day and the order of the chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea.
The launch training order was signed by Kim Jong-un, instructing the mobilization of the First Red Banner Hero Company of the General Administration of Missiles to use the "Hwasong Cannon-15" intercontinental ballistic missile for training.
The missile rose to the highest peak altitude of 5,768.5 kilometers, flew 989 kilometers in 4,015 seconds, and accurately struck the target water area.
North Korea conducts intercontinental ballistic missile launch training.
Image source: KCNA
On the morning of the 20th, North Korea's long-range artillery unit conducted another rocket launch training.
According to the order, the relevant rocket artillery firepower division of the long-range artillery unit on the western front of the Korean People’s Army mobilized 600mm rocket artillery, set imaginary targets 395 kilometers and 337 kilometers away from the launch site, and fired two rocket artillery shells.
Teams in other divisions did not conduct live ammunition shooting, but also conducted artillery operation training in the tunnel positions.
In the face of a series of actions by North Korea, South Korea and the United States also responded.
On the 18th, the South Korean Presidential Office convened a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Security Council (NSC). All parties involved in the meeting analyzed the specific parameters of the missiles launched by North Korea and discussed countermeasures.
Immediately afterwards, South Korea and the United States carried out a joint air exercise on the 19th and invested in US strategic weapons.
More than 10 fighter jets from the two countries participated in the exercise, flying from the western waters of the Korean Peninsula to the eastern waters across the southern region.
According to the information previously disclosed by the Ministry of National Defense of South Korea, the two countries will also hold the South Korea-US Extended Deterrence Exercise (DSC TTX) at the Pentagon on the 22nd.
On the 20th, the South Korean government announced sanctions against 4 individuals and 5 entities.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry stated that these individuals and entities were involved in North Korea's nuclear and missile research and development.
Yonhap News Agency stated that this is the fourth time that the Yin Xiyue government has issued a list of unilateral sanctions against North Korea.
Since October 2022, a total of 31 individuals and 35 entities have been placed on the unilateral sanctions list.
Data map: On April 2, 2017, in Pohang, South Korea, the South Korean Navy participated in the South Korean-US joint military exercise "Harrier Eagle" landing exercise.
Kim Yo Jong "reminds":
North Korea won't target Seoul with ICBM
Regarding the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, Kim Yo Jong, Vice Minister of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, made a statement for two consecutive days.
Kim Yo Jong said on the 19th that the United States and South Korea have frequently played "the signboard of dealing with threats", loudly clamored to expand their deterrent capabilities and joint defense posture, and publicly exposed their ambitions and attempts to gain military superiority and occupy a dominant position in the Korean peninsula. It will increasingly destabilize the region, leading to a precarious situation.
Kim Yo Jong urged that the United States should "stop all actions that threaten our national security, do not tarnish the image of our country, and always think carefully for its own long-term security."
She pointed out that South Korea also had better consider what kind of disaster it will eventually lead to if it is as it is now.
She then "reminded" that "we will not target Seoul with ICBMs."
Kim Jong Un's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, vice minister of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea.
In the latest conversation on the 20th, Kim Yo Jong criticized South Korea for "casual analysis and hype" of North Korea's missile launches, "belittling the readiness of North Korea's missile forces", and criticized the recent activities of the US military on the Korean peninsula.
She said that the recent activities of the US military's strategic strikes on the Korean Peninsula have become more and more frequent.
Once it is judged that there may be any direct or indirect concerns, corresponding response measures will be taken.
"How often we use the Pacific Ocean as our shooting range depends on the nature of U.S. military operations."
China's response to the situation on the Korean Peninsula:
Hope that all parties will stick to the direction of political settlement
In response to North Korea’s claim that it launched two short-range ballistic missiles, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on the 20th that China is concerned about the development of the situation on the Korean peninsula, and has taken note of the news released by the DPRK, as well as the fact that relevant parties have recently held multiple military exercises in the region to strengthen military cooperation. and so on.
Wang Wenbin also said that the crux and context of the peninsula issue are clear, and he hopes that all parties will stick to the direction of political settlement and resolve their respective concerns in a balanced manner through meaningful dialogue.
China's position on the peninsula issue remains unchanged, and will continue to follow the dual-track approach and the principle of step-by-step synchronization to play a constructive role in promoting the political settlement of the peninsula issue.