BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday once again urged restraint and calmness on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, calling on concerned parties to avoid making provocative moves that could escalate the situation.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks in response to a medium-range ballistic missile launch conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Sunday.
The test fire was the eighth time it has conducted missile launches so far this year, according to a reporter who raised a question at a daily press briefing.
China has noticed the launch, Hua said, adding that China opposes any launches by the DPRK that run against UN Security Council resolutions.
The current situation on the peninsula is complex and sensitive, said Hua.
"We once again urge parties concerned to keep calm and refrain from making any provocative moves that may escalate the situation," she said.
She called on parties concerned to return to the right track of dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible.
As for the UN Security Council meeting to be held Tuesday about the Korean Peninsula issue, Hua said there are three important points of consensus reached by the international community: denuclearization on the peninsula, full and strict implementation of UN Security Council resolutions and peaceful settlement of the issue.
Discussions or actions by the UN Security Council should help development of the nuclear issue in the direction of realizing these three, said Hua.
China will make its due contribution to the peaceful resolution of the issue, she said.
