The People Power Party on January 4 slammed North Korea’s ballistic missile provocation, asserting it only hastens the regime’s path to self-destruction and deeper isolation.
In a statement, Chief Party Spokesperson Choi Bo-yun declared that this latest launch, coming just two months after the last one in November, is a brazen act of defiance against international warnings. It poses a clear security threat right out of the gate in the new year.
Choi emphasized that the timing of this launch is particularly alarming, coinciding with President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. This cannot be dismissed as a mere coincidence.
She further stated that by disrupting this critical juncture when South Korea and China are working towards peace and economic cooperation in Northeast Asia, North Korea is clearly attempting to undermine South Korea-China relations and obstruct legitimate diplomatic efforts.
Referencing the recent U.S. airstrike in Venezuela, Choi noted that some analysts suggest that North Korea’s reckless action may be driven by fear and backlash following the U.S. military operation against Venezuela’s dictator Maduro.
She warned that Pyongyang must recognize that its ballistic missile provocations will not serve as an insurance policy for regime survival, as evidenced by the situation in Venezuela. These continued military provocations will only strengthen the U.S.-South Korea alliance and intensify international sanctions and pressure.
Choi concluded by urging that North Korea must immediately halt all actions that escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and return to the negotiating table for denuclearization and peace.