China urges calm over Korean Peninsula

BEIJING - China on Monday appealed for relevant parties not to take any actions that could worsen the situation of the Korean Peninsula.

At a daily press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, "The situation of the peninsula currently is sensitive and complicated." He added that China called on relevant parties to exercise calm.

When asked to confirm a report by Reuters, which said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had told China that it is prepared to carry out one or even two more nuclear tests, or another rocket launch this year, Hong replied he "did not know where the Reuters report came from."

The DPRK conducted its third nuclear test on February 12 despite opposition from the international community.

Hong reiterated that China opposes DPRK's nuclear test.

China holds that the UN Security Council's relevant discussions should be conducive to the realization of denuclearization, non-proliferation, and peace and stability on the peninsula, he said. The spokesman added that China is ready to maintain contacts with all relevant parties in this regard.

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