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Kim Yo-jong Rejects U.S. Dialogue Hopes, Declares North Korea’s Nuclear Status Irreversible

On July 28, the White House stated that President Donald Trump remains willing to engage in talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean government echoed this position, reaffirming its commitment to rebuilding inter-Korean trust in a peaceful environment and creating favorable conditions for resuming U.S.–North Korea dialogue.

However, North Korea’s state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that Kim Yo-jong – sister of Kim Jong-un and Vice Department Director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea – dismissed these overtures, stating that “U.S.–North Korea contact is merely the United States’ ‘wish.’” She criticized Washington’s unilateral interpretation of past talks, saying Pyongyang assigns no value to such evaluations.

Kim declared that North Korea’s nuclear status is now irreversible and that the regional geopolitical landscape has fundamentally changed. Recognizing this reality, she said, must be the starting point for any future discussions. North Korea, she added, remains open to any option that safeguards its national status. If the U.S. refuses to accept this new reality and clings to failed strategies of the past, she concluded, any talk of renewed dialogue will remain nothing more than an American illusion.

Source: Huanqiu Times, July 29, 2025
https://world.huanqiu.com/article/4NhI2Bq5tlg

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

Leadership Shake-up in China’s People’s Armed Police: Commander Wang Chunning Disappears, Acting Chief Steps In

Wang Chunning (王春宁), commander of China’s People’s Armed Police (PAP), has been absent from public view since late last year and is rumored to be under investigation.

On July 21, the 15th National Commendation Conference for Heroes and Role Models of Courageous Acts was held in Beijing. According to reports from Legal Daily and Procuratorial Daily the following day, Cao Junzhang (曹均章), serving as the acting commander of the PAP, attended the event in an official capacity.

Born in 1965 and holding the rank of lieutenant general, Cao has had a long military career in the former Chengdu Military Region. His previous roles include Director of the Operations Department, Commander of a division within the Army’s 13th Group Army, Deputy Commander of that army, and later Deputy Commander of the 76th Group Army.

Political analysts believe the current shift in leadership signals that the PAP remains firmly under the influence of Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Cao’s background links him to Zhang, as the 13th Group Army had long been under Zhang’s command. Another deputy commander of the PAP, Fu Wenhua (付文化), also hails from the 16th Group Army in the Shenyang Military Region –  Zhang’s power base.

The PAP plays a critical role in China’s internal security structure and is frequently deployed to suppress public dissent.

Source: Epoch Times, July 24, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/7/24/n14559438.htm

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Government/Politics

People’s Daily: Joint Landing Exercises Between Army and Navy Become Routine

People’s Daily reported a story about coordination between the army and the navy.

In recent years, as joint training has steadily expanded, an armored unit from a certain brigade has increasingly conducted coordinated landing ship training with naval forces, making such exercises a routine practice. The duration of the maritime training varies.

To address the issue of meal provision for armored unit personnel during extended periods at sea, the brigade headquarters established a coordination mechanism with a naval detachment. During training, naval cooks on board provide hot meals to the army soldiers.

Source: People’s Daily, July 15, 2025
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2025/0715/c1011-40521761.html

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

China-Africa Youth Military Leader Forum Opens in Nanjing

The Youth Leadership Conference of the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum was hosted in Nanjing from July 15 to 19. Representatives of the Chinese military joined nearly 90 mid- to senior-level military officers from over 40 African countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, and Zambia.

With the theme “Looking to the Future, Building Peace Together,” the forum featured three main topics: “Capacity Building for African Peace and Security,” “Empowering Defense and Security Cooperation Through Emerging Technologies,” and “Comprehensive Approaches to Non-Traditional Security Threats.” The event combined keynote speeches, thematic presentations, and group discussions, aiming to create a platform for equal dialogue among young Chinese and African military officers and to further build consensus, strengthen solidarity, and expand cooperation in the fields of peace and security.

Source: Huanqiu Times, July 15, 2025
https://mil.huanqiu.com/article/4NW0TmjysIG

Briefings | | |   @CS Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

China Rapidly Expanding Nuclear Arsenal, Projected to Rival U.S. and Russia by 2030

On June 16, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its 2025 Yearbook. There are nine nuclear-armed countries in the world: United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel. Russia remains the world’s largest nuclear power in terms of total military stockpile, with 4,309 warheads. The United States ranks second with 3,700 warheads. China possesses at least 600 nuclear warheads, making it the world’s third-largest nuclear power.

Since 2023, China has been adding about 100 warheads annually, a pace far exceeding that of other countries. At this rate, China could possess 1,600 nuclear warheads by 2035.

The yearbook also noted that, as of January 2025, China had completed or nearly completed construction of approximately 350 new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos across three major desert regions in northern China and three mountainous regions in eastern China. China’s ICBM arsenal buildup plan is to match that of Russia or the United States.

Source: Epoch Times, June 18, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/6/18/n14534239.htm

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

China to Send 600 Troops to Russia for Training on How to Counter Western Weapons

The Kyiv Post reported on June 24, citing sources from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR), that Russia plans to arrange training for about 600 Chinese military personnel at Russian military facilities and bases this year. These Chinese personnel will receive training on how to counter Western weapons, covering areas such as tank operations, artillery, engineering, air defense, and drone warfare. The report did not specify whether the trainees would later join Russian combat units or if the training is purely for exchange purposes.

GUR sources said the Kremlin’s intention is to allow Chinese military personnel to learn from Russia’s combat experience in the Russia-Ukraine war, reflecting Russia’s desire to align with China in jointly confronting the West.

There have been reports and China provides substantial support to Russia on the Ukraine War. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stated in May that although China had suspended the supply of drones to Kyiv and other European countries, it continued to provide related equipment to Russia. In mid-April, Zelenskyy also said Ukrainian intelligence showed that China was producing gunpowder, artillery shells, and other materials within Russian territory.

Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), June 27, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202506270053.aspx

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Geo-Strategic Trend

Global Times: China to Hold Large-Scale Military Parade on September 3

Chinese state media announced a military parade that would be held at Tiananmen Square on September 3.

Military expert Zhang Junshe told Huanqiu Times that the parade will clearly showcase the new structural layout of China’s military services and arms. This structure includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, as well as the newly organized Space Force, Cyberspace Force, Information Support Force, and Joint Logistics Support Force, all under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Zhang noted that this means the Information Support Force, Space Force, and Cyberspace Force will make their first public appearance in a military parade.

The parade will also present the modernized image of China’s “three-pronged” armed forces, which consist of the PLA, the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force, and the militia.

Another highlight of the parade will be the equipment formations showcasing the PLA’s latest advancements. These will include new combat forces featuring unmanned intelligent systems, underwater warfare equipment, cyber warfare tools, and hypersonic weapons.

Source: Huanqiu Times, June 24, 2025
https://hqtime.huanqiu.com/article/4NDyhz4kpCA

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military

Chinese State Media’s Commentaries on NATO Summit

The NATO summit was held on June 24–25 in The Hague. Chinese Communist Party controlled state media Xinhua News Agency and Huanqiu Times published commentaries.

Xinhua: The New NATO Plan Is Hard for Europe to Digest

The summit appeared largely as a performance of unity designed to appease the U.S. A key outcome was the commitment by NATO members to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035. However, this superficial consensus masks deep internal divisions.

The U.S. aims to maximize its global dominance at minimal cost, while Europe prioritizes security and strategic autonomy. Trump’s double standard – refusing to meet the 5 percent target for the U.S. while demanding other countries do – has caused resentment among European countries, many of whom are hesitant to speak out.

Moreover, the sharp increase in defense spending is expected to primarily benefit the U.S. military-industrial complex. Analysts argue this is more a massive wealth transfer to the U.S. than genuine progress toward European defense independence.

Huanqiu Times: Asia-Pacific Countries Distance Themselves from NATO

Notably, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese all skipped the summit. NATO’s attempt to extend its influence by labeling China a “challenge” conflicts with its own treaty, which limits its scope to the North Atlantic region and forbids interference in Asia-Pacific affairs. China has repeatedly warned against NATO’s overreach, describing its Asia-Pacific ambitions as blatant geopolitical expansion.

The absence of these Asia-Pacific leaders sends a clear message: they refuse to become pawns in great-power rivalry or endorse an expanding NATO. This may also signal a growing political awakening in the region.

Sources:
1. Xinhua, June 26, 2025
http://www.news.cn/world/20250626/2ec6f042517740d38f80e1232b8259ca/c.html
2. Huanqiu Times, June 26, 2025
https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/4NFxMsLy2sc

Briefings | | |   Defense/Military Economy/Resources US-China Relations