In an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, Dr. Nozar Shafiei, referred to the message of the president of China to his counterpart in North Korea, in which he announced that Beijing is ready to cooperate with North Korea to establish peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world, because changes in the world, in times and in history are happening in an unprecedented way, and clarified: Beijing is seeking to announce that in line with efforts to gain a position of superiority in the world, it can attract some countries that may be dissatisfied with the current international order towards  cooperation.

He added: North Korea has fired more than 34 ballistic missiles since the beginning of this year, and in recent weeks, it has tested a number of intercontinental ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads. Now this country has reached the stage of testing missiles with a range of 10,000 kilometers that can reach the American soil.

Referring to the negotiations that took place in the recent meetings of East Asia and concentration of powers in that region, the university professor said: due to the developments in the relations between Russia and China with the United States and the increasing attention and importance of the East Asian region, North Korea has been turned into an important player in that. This country knows that the pressure will increase against it in various forms and has announced that the country’s military activities are in response to the provocations of South Korea, the US and Japan. China also considers North Korea as its most important practical tool in the geopolitical tension with the United States.

Shafiei continued: According to Seoul’s announcement, Pyongyang has completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test, and in recent weeks, we have been witness to an increase in tensions on the Korean Peninsula to the extent that South and North Korea fired warning shots along the disputed maritime border in the Yellow Sea.  In this situation, Seoul and Washington started a four-day joint naval exercise in the Yellow Sea. In response to such measures, the leader of North Korea emphasized that the launch of the intercontinental ballistic missile proved to the world that North Korea is a complete nuclear power and can confront the dominance of the United States.

The expert on Asia affairs stated that North Korea has announced that it will pursue tougher military responses against the US efforts to strengthen its military presence in the region, adding: According to all experts of international relations, competition will increase in East Asia and this is an issue which was predicted in recent years with the decrease in the importance of other regions, including the Middle East, for the United States. In the conditions where China is witnessing an increase in tensions in this region, it is trying to play an active role and manage those conditions. In addition, from Beijing’s point of view, a country can have a global leadership position that can act rationally in dealing with acute international issues and move towards attracting countries to solve crises instead of rejecting them.

Shafiei explained: The world is going through a period that is one of the most sensitive periods in the history of international relations, the least imprudence may lead the world to a war. From 16 shifts in power and transition in international orders that have occurred in history, 12 of them have ended in war. Considering the transition that the world is experiencing from American hegemony to Chinese hegemony, this shift may cause conflicts in the international system. Realizing this situation, China is worried about the increase of any tension in its region.

According to the expert on Asia affairs, North Korea is a nuclear power with high military capability, and its entry into regional conflicts can lead to international conflicts. China believes that it can prevent tension due to its influence on North Korea and sends the message that if it undertakes the leadership of the world, it can manage international crises and show its capability in crisis management. At the same time, it will take a preemptive action against the US attempt to issue a resolution or impose more international sanctions against North Korea.

Emphasizing that China is worried about a crisis in its regional environment, Shafiei added: The White House had announced that continuation of North Korea’s efforts in developing weaponry will lead to an increase in the US military presence in the region. In this situation, China is also worried about the consequences of North Korea’s seventh nuclear test, in response to Western pressure on Beijing and Moscow to use the leverages and influence Pyongyang, and wants to play a role in establishing stability and security in the region, in order to prevent development of such Weapons become an excuse for increasing the US presence or launching a war.

The university professor noted: A country needs a peaceful security environment for its growth. Unlike the United States, which tries to make China’s security environment unstable and create instability, so that China would be deprived of having the opportunity to grow and develop, China seeks to establish stability. We are witnessing two attempts at the regional level, an attempt to create instability and unrest in the region led by the United States with the aim of making China’s regional environment insecure and an attempt by China to create security in this region so that it can maintain order and stability and continue its development path.

Saying that the tensions will definitely increase in this region and the surrounding environment of China and North Korea is also worried about this increase in tensions, he added: the countries of this region have made serious moves in their military attitudes and defense capabilities; their military and defense budgets and expenses have increased almost every year in the past decade, and their efforts to secure military budgets have increased, especially after Russia’s attack on Ukraine and China’s increasing pressure on Taiwan.