Why was China’s response to North Korea’s latest missile launches so muted?

China's response to North Korea's recent missile launches has been described as muted. According to Reuters Business via SCMP, this muted response suggests that Beijing is prioritising Pyongyang's stability over near-term denuclearisation. North Korea launched more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles just hours after China's top diplomat Wang Yi concluded a two-day visit to Seoul.

The launches have occurred amid ongoing diplomatic efforts, with US Secretary of State and South Korean Foreign Minister discussing the issue. However, their readouts of the conversation differed, with the US not mentioning denuclearisation, according to The Korea Times.

The situation is being closely watched by analysts, who note China's significant influence in the region and its role in maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Brief written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP, Semafor, The Korea Times — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.