North Korea s ballistic missile tests are concerning. However, the Biden administration must not allow China to use its influence over North Korea as leverage for American concessions to Beijing.
The top diplomats of Japan, the United States and South Korea say they oppose any attempts to change the status quo of territories by force amid China s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region, while showing their resolve to resolutely respond to any nuclear test by North Korea.
The United States and South Korea on Sept. 16 expressed "serious concern" about North Korea s first-use nuclear doctrine and warned that any nuclear attack would be met with an "overwhelming and decisive response."
France on Friday condemned the adoption by North Korea of a law declaring its readiness to launch preventive nuclear strikes as a "threat to international and regional peace and security".