June 03, 2023
News

US-ROK-Japan military drills a factor in North Korea’s missile tests, China says

Beijing foreign ministry calls for dialogue but says Washington needs to prove it has ‘no hostile intent’ toward DPRK

China weighed in on North Korea’s recent flurry of ballistic missiles Sunday, calling for dialogue but pointing to the “continuous joint military exercises” by the U.S., South Korea and Japan around the peninsula as a factor in the launches. 

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a press briefing that Beijing “noted relevant reports” of the DPRK’s latest ballistic missile tests, but did not condemn them.