Missile launched on day of China’s ‘Belt and Road’ summit reflects Pyongyang’s determination to push on with its nuclear ambitions, analysts say
China called on Sunday for restraint after North Korea’s latest missile test on Sunday, warning against raising tensions over the Korean Peninsula. In his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, President Xi Jinping said the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved through political means. “The two countries, which have been committed to seeking a political solution to the Syrian conflict and the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue, have played the role of ‘ballast stone’ in safeguarding regional and global peace and stability, ” Xinhua cited Xi as saying. Observers said the test early on Sunday proved that recent positive signs were not lasting for long, and Pyongyang was buying time for its nuclear ambition. The missile was fired at 4.27am HK time, flew for about 30 minutes and reached an altitude of more than 2,000km before it landed in the Sea of Japan. It took place just a couple of hours before China kicked off its biggest diplomatic event of the year, the Belt and Road Forum, when President Xi Jinping laid out his grand vision of boosting connectivity with nations from Asia to Europe and beyond. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said China opposed the missile test as it violated United Nations Security Council resolutions, and called on all parties to exercise restraint and do nothing to further worsen regional tensions. Pyongyang’s chief nuclear negotiator Choe Son-hui said North Korea was ready to hold talks with the United States “if the conditions are mature”.
