Caution urged as tensions increase

Beijing has called on Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul to "be cautious" amid rising tension on the Korean Peninsula, after the official news agency of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea reported on Friday that the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, had said the military should be ready to deploy nuclear warheads at any time for national defense.

Kim also said the DPRK will take corresponding military measures in a "pre-emptive manner" against any enemies that pose a war threat, the Korean Central News Agency reported.

In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei called for "exercising restraint and caution in words and actions" and "avoiding further escalation of the tense situation".