Beijing urges all parties in Korean peninsula to display restraint

China will be prepared to act in concert with other countries for the sake of early denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and it is calling upon all parties concerned to display restraint, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei. "China is prepared to maintain contact with other parties for the sake of promoting early return of the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear problem to the negotiating track, to advance the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and to promote peace and stability in Southeast Asia," he said. At the same time, when asked about the latest surge in tensions in the peninsula, including the flight of a US strategic bomber B-52 over South Korea, Hong asked all parties to display restraint and to refrain from any action that might cause a further worsening of the situation. "The protection of peace and stability in Southeast Asia meets the common interests of all countries. We do hope that the parties concerned will be able to retain reserve and avoid an escalation of tensions," Hong said. North Korea on January 6 said it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. Over years Pyongyang has carried out three nuclear tests: in 2006, 2009 and 2013. In response, the UN Security Council took sanctions against North Korea. Pyongyang has carried out no nuclear tests for the past two years, confining itself to launches of ballistic missiles following large-scale exercises by South Korea and the United States. Read more