Chinese, S. Korean FMs discuss Korean peninsula situation over phone

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanged views Tuesday with his South Korean counterpart, Yun Byung-se, on the situation of the Korean peninsula.

In a telephone conversation, Wang noted that China has clearly expressed its opposition to the recent nuclear test carried out by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

China endorsed the necessary response to the DPRK's nuclear test by the UN Security Council and called on all sides to remain calm, exercise restraint and refrain from further actions that would heighten tension, Wang said.

The settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula requires that all sides eventually come back to the negotiation table, he said.

Reiterating China's opposition against the U.S. deployment of the anti-missile system of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in South Korea, the Chinese foreign minister urged South Korea to respect China's concerns and act with discretion. Endi