Prof. ST Hsieh
Director, US-China Energy Industry Forum
626-376-7460
March 14, 2022
The following public notice from the US State Department, like may similar notices, is useful but not informative at all for the reader to make any judgement about such information. On the headline, the important dialogue is between Ambassador Sung Kim and PRC Ambassador Liu Xiaoming. Of course, DPRK missiles launches are important issue for the US as well as China. But the attached text amounts to a pronouncement of unilateral US positions. It would be much more informative if the State Department includes China’s reaction and/or proposals for moving forward. In fact, it makes more sense for Special Representative for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ambassador Sung Kim have a call with his DPRK counterpart. But US and DPRK have no direct communication for a while, why and what is next?
Diplomacy is a dialogue, if US is contend with a pronouncement of US request only, then a letter or email should serve the purpose. There is no need to send any ambassador travelling around the world and/or make phone calls!
03/13/2022 11:22 AM EDT
Office of the Spokesperson
The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
On March 10, Special Representative for the DPRK Sung Kim called PRC Special Representative on Korean Peninsula Affairs Liu Xiaoming to discuss the DPRK’s February 26 and March 4 ballistic missile launches, which the U.S. government has concluded were tests of a new DPRK intercontinental ballistic missile system.
Special Representative Kim strongly condemned the launches, which violated multiple UN Security Council resolutions and present a serious threat to international peace and security. He expressed concern that these launches demonstrate the DPRK’s determination to advance its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs and continue an increasingly escalatory path. Special Representative Kim emphasized that the PRC and United States share an interest in ensuring regional stability, and he called upon Beijing to join Washington in publicly condemning the DPRK’s missile launches. Special Representative Kim also encouraged the PRC to urge the DPRK to cease its destabilizing activity and return to dialogue. Special Representative Kim reiterated that the United States remains open to diplomacy with the DPRK to make progress toward our shared goal of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.