Pyongyang urged to exercise restraint

Beijing urged Pyongyang to show restraint after its announcement of plans to launch a satellite later this month, and experts said the announcement provided an excuse for the US and Japan to escalate their military presence in Northeast Asia, which would harm regional peace.

China is seriously concerned about a plan by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to launch the satellite, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing on Wednesday. Beijing hopes Pyongyang will act prudently to avoid escalating tensions, he added.

The DPRK is entitled to peaceful use of outer space, but this right is restricted by resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, Lu said.