N. Korea backs China on Taiwan, blames U.S. for regional instability
Quick Look
North Korea defended China's One China policy and accused the United States of supporting Taiwan independence and escalating regional tensions, citing over $39 billion in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan in the past decade and warning of potential confrontation with China.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
North Korea and China have strengthened ties through two summits in 2025, including a June meeting in Pyongyang where they agreed to elevate their relationship to a 'strategic partnership'.
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Wednesday defended Beijing's "One China" policy while accusing the United States of supporting Taiwan independence and "escalating" tension in the region.
The criticism came in an article titled "U.S. Is Acting Rashly" by international affairs analyst Kim Myong-chol, carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"The U.S. has systematically destroyed regional stability and persistently escalated the situation under the pretext of 'opposing unilateral attempt at change of phenomenon' in the Taiwan Strait," Kim wrote.
Referring to the recent delivery of a U.S. fighter jet to Taiwan, Kim said, "This is nothing but a shameless act of planting a bomb at the gate of other's house and asserting that the bomb is for ensuring the security of the house."
He claimed munitions supplied by the U.S. to Taiwan through overseas arms sales over the past decade alone amounted to more than US$39 billion.
"The Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China, so how to settle it is entirely the affair of the Chinese people, and no outside forces have the right to interfere in it," he said.
Kim warned Washington to "think twice whether it is ready to stand in frontal confrontation with the powerful national power of the People's Republic of China for the security of Taiwan and whether it can cope with its consequences."
"The instability of the Taiwan Strait precisely means the crisis of the United States. Taiwan's return to China is a matter of time," he said.
North Korea and China have grown closer in recent years, following two summits -- one in Beijing in September 2025 and the other in Pyongyang in June this year. During the latter summit, the two sides vowed to elevate their relationship to a "strategic partnership."
What to Watch
AI outlook โ possibilities, not facts
North Korea will continue to publicly support China's position on Taiwan and criticize U.S. arms sales to the island.
Likely ยท Within weeks
U.S. arms sales to Taiwan will remain a point of contention in U.S.-China-North Korea relations.
Likely ยท Within months
Open Questions
- What specific actions might North Korea take to support China's position on Taiwan?
- How will the U.S. respond to North Korea's criticism of its Taiwan policy?
- Will the increased arms sales to Taiwan continue despite regional warnings?
