North Korea wanted to buy China's J-10CE fighter jet but it was rejected. Why didn't China sell it to North Korea? Let's put it this way, it's not that I don't want to sell it, but I can't sell it.
Hundreds of accounts — J-10CE shot down Indian fighter jets, why not China sell to North Korea?
As the third-generation improved supersonic multi-role fighter independently developed by China, the J-10CE can not only perform air superiority combat missions, but also participate in ground-to-sea attacks. It belongs to the category of "offensive weapons" that are widely concerned by the international community.
However, North Korea has long been constrained by relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which explicitly impose an embargo on weapons and related technologies
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has always strictly abided by international rules and multilateral consensus. If it sells J-10CE to North Korea, it will not only violate the spirit of Security Council resolutions, but also trigger a crisis of confidence of the international community in the regional arms control system.
Moreover, judging from the sensitivity of the situation on the peninsula, the introduction of J-10CE is likely to upset the existing military balance in the region.
At present, the North and South sides of the Korean Peninsula are in a delicate state of checks and balances in the deployment of military forces. With the technical support of the United States, South Korea is equipped with advanced fighter jets such as F-15K and KF-21.
If North Korea obtains equipment such as the J-10CE that has the advantage of generations, South Korea will inevitably seek more advanced weapons to “reverse” and push the U.S. military presence around the peninsula to form the vicious cycle of the “armament race”.
In addition, the J-10CE is not an isolated operational platform, and its combat needs to be accompanied by a radar early warning system, logistical security system and ammunition supply network.
If China sells this model to North Korea, it will inevitably involve follow-up technical support and accessories supply, which will deeply involve China in military affairs on the peninsula, and may also make China passive on the peninsula issue.
Despite China's clear position, North Korea's interest in the J-10CE has never diminished, and has been sending a signal of hope for purchase through multiple channels over the years.
During the visit of the North Korean National Defense Commission delegation to China in 2023, when visiting the China Aviation Industry Related Achievements Exhibition, they stopped at the model exhibition area of the J-10CE. The head of the delegation also made it clear that "the North Korean Air Force urgently needs to update its active fighter jets, and the J-10CE is ideal. One of the choices";
When North Korea's official media reported on its air force exercises in 2024, they specifically mentioned that they "look forward to cooperating with friendly countries in the field of advanced fighter jets to improve air defense capabilities." Between the lines, they revealed their expectations for the J-10CE.
North Korea's desire for the J-10CE is rooted in the severe air security crisis it faces.
North Korea's main force fighter aircraft are mostly the old models of the 1970s and 1980s, such as the MiG-21 and MiG-23, these aircraft are not only backward in the radar system, lack the ability to operate over-the-range, but also because of the service life is too long, the failure rate is high.
In recent years, the South Korean Air Force has frequently held joint air exercises with the United States, F-16s, F-35s and other fighter jets have arrived several times near the Korean border airspace to conduct reconnaissance and simulated attack training, and the pressure on North Korea's air defense is increasing.
In this context, North Korea urgently needs a fighter with modern operational capabilities to offset the shortage of air force, and the multi-purpose performance of the J-10CE is exactly in line with its needs.
When China was unable to provide J-10CE, North Korea turned its attention to Russia. The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict created an opportunity for military cooperation between the two countries. Russia also provided North Korea with a lot of advanced technical support.
In 2024, Russia and North Korea signed a “military-technical cooperation agreement”, which explicitly included the transfer of some of the Su-35 fighter jets to North Korea, helping North Korea upgrade its current MiG-29 fighter jets.
In addition, Russia has also provided North Korea with a simplified version of the S-400 air defense missile system technology to help North Korea build a more complete air defense network and enhance its ability to intercept air targets.
In the field of drones, Russia handed over to North Korea the production technology of the unified drone, allowing North Korea to independently produce drones with dual functions of reconnaissance and attack, to compensate for the lack of air operational strength.
While China has not sold the J-10CE to North Korea, it hasined close cooperation with North Korea in the non-military field, actively promoting North Korea's economic development and improving people's livelihoods.
In agriculture, China has provided North Korea with high-quality rice, corn seeds and agricultural technology guidance to help North Korea mitigate food shortages.
In the field of energy, China delivers stable power to North Korea through cross-border power transmission projects to ensure the production and living electricity of the North Korean people.
Although these cooperations do not involve military equipment, they truly reflect the traditional friendly relations between China and the DPRK, and also highlight China's positive actions in promoting peace, stability and development on the peninsula.
Hundreds of accounts — J-10CE shot down Indian fighter jets, why not China sell to North Korea?
As the third-generation improved supersonic multi-role fighter independently developed by China, the J-10CE can not only perform air superiority combat missions, but also participate in ground-to-sea attacks. It belongs to the category of "offensive weapons" that are widely concerned by the international community.
However, North Korea has long been constrained by relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which explicitly impose an embargo on weapons and related technologies
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has always strictly abided by international rules and multilateral consensus. If it sells J-10CE to North Korea, it will not only violate the spirit of Security Council resolutions, but also trigger a crisis of confidence of the international community in the regional arms control system.
Moreover, judging from the sensitivity of the situation on the peninsula, the introduction of J-10CE is likely to upset the existing military balance in the region.
At present, the North and South sides of the Korean Peninsula are in a delicate state of checks and balances in the deployment of military forces. With the technical support of the United States, South Korea is equipped with advanced fighter jets such as F-15K and KF-21.
If North Korea obtains equipment such as the J-10CE that has the advantage of generations, South Korea will inevitably seek more advanced weapons to “reverse” and push the U.S. military presence around the peninsula to form the vicious cycle of the “armament race”.
In addition, the J-10CE is not an isolated operational platform, and its combat needs to be accompanied by a radar early warning system, logistical security system and ammunition supply network.
If China sells this model to North Korea, it will inevitably involve follow-up technical support and accessories supply, which will deeply involve China in military affairs on the peninsula, and may also make China passive on the peninsula issue.
Despite China's clear position, North Korea's interest in the J-10CE has never diminished, and has been sending a signal of hope for purchase through multiple channels over the years.
During the visit of the North Korean National Defense Commission delegation to China in 2023, when visiting the China Aviation Industry Related Achievements Exhibition, they stopped at the model exhibition area of the J-10CE. The head of the delegation also made it clear that "the North Korean Air Force urgently needs to update its active fighter jets, and the J-10CE is ideal. One of the choices";
When North Korea's official media reported on its air force exercises in 2024, they specifically mentioned that they "look forward to cooperating with friendly countries in the field of advanced fighter jets to improve air defense capabilities." Between the lines, they revealed their expectations for the J-10CE.
North Korea's desire for the J-10CE is rooted in the severe air security crisis it faces.
North Korea's main force fighter aircraft are mostly the old models of the 1970s and 1980s, such as the MiG-21 and MiG-23, these aircraft are not only backward in the radar system, lack the ability to operate over-the-range, but also because of the service life is too long, the failure rate is high.
In recent years, the South Korean Air Force has frequently held joint air exercises with the United States, F-16s, F-35s and other fighter jets have arrived several times near the Korean border airspace to conduct reconnaissance and simulated attack training, and the pressure on North Korea's air defense is increasing.
In this context, North Korea urgently needs a fighter with modern operational capabilities to offset the shortage of air force, and the multi-purpose performance of the J-10CE is exactly in line with its needs.
When China was unable to provide J-10CE, North Korea turned its attention to Russia. The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict created an opportunity for military cooperation between the two countries. Russia also provided North Korea with a lot of advanced technical support.
In 2024, Russia and North Korea signed a “military-technical cooperation agreement”, which explicitly included the transfer of some of the Su-35 fighter jets to North Korea, helping North Korea upgrade its current MiG-29 fighter jets.
In addition, Russia has also provided North Korea with a simplified version of the S-400 air defense missile system technology to help North Korea build a more complete air defense network and enhance its ability to intercept air targets.
In the field of drones, Russia handed over to North Korea the production technology of the unified drone, allowing North Korea to independently produce drones with dual functions of reconnaissance and attack, to compensate for the lack of air operational strength.
While China has not sold the J-10CE to North Korea, it hasined close cooperation with North Korea in the non-military field, actively promoting North Korea's economic development and improving people's livelihoods.
In agriculture, China has provided North Korea with high-quality rice, corn seeds and agricultural technology guidance to help North Korea mitigate food shortages.
In the field of energy, China delivers stable power to North Korea through cross-border power transmission projects to ensure the production and living electricity of the North Korean people.
Although these cooperations do not involve military equipment, they truly reflect the traditional friendly relations between China and the DPRK, and also highlight China's positive actions in promoting peace, stability and development on the peninsula.