China urges restraint after DPRK's missile launch

China once again called on parties concerned to continue to support the resumption of negotiation on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Wednesday.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday test-fired a ballistic missile into eastern waters, according to the Republic of Korea (ROK) defense ministry.

UN Security Council resolutions have clear stipulations about launch activities using ballistic missile technology by the DPRK, said Hua.

She said under the current circumstances, all relevant parties should stay restrained and avoid intensifying regional tension.

Hua called for a rational and balanced solution to address the security concerns of all parties concerned.

China has made unremitting efforts in pushing forward the denuclearization of the Peninsula, she said.

China proposed a "dual-track approach" to promote denuclearization of the Peninsula and establish a peace mechanism in parallel and a "suspension for suspension" to defuse the looming crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

As a first step, the DPRK may suspend its nuclear and missile activities in exchange for the suspension of large-scale U.S.-ROK military exercises.

"The ultimate goal is to pull the Korean nuclear issue back on to the right track of peaceful resolution through dialogue and consultation," said Hua.

She reaffirmed China's opposition to the U.S. deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean peninsula.

China hopes the ROK side can face the reasonable security concerns of China and stop the deployment of the THAAD system, she added. Endi