Special report: DPRK's nuclear test>>> 

China on Thursday (Oct 12th) said it opposed any military action to deal with the Korean Peninsula situation, following the nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"China opposes any military action to resolve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told the regular briefing.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the DPRK conducted an underground nuclear test on Monday.

"The DPRK should refrain from any action that may aggravate the Korean Peninsula situation," Liu said, urging the DPRK to return to six-party talks.

"We believe that the denuclearization and the maintaining of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula best serves the interests of all parties," the spokesman said.

Liu said China is consulting with other parties and hope the consultation will be conducive to furthering the diplomatic efforts.

The members of the United Nations Security Council have been discussing a draft resolution circulated by the United States, which tends to take punitive sanctions against the DPRK.

"Any action, any decision, any resolution, must be conducive to resolving the issue peacefully," Liu said.

While urging all parties to keep coolheaded, Liu called for the early resumption of the six-party talks.

The six-party talks on Korean nuclear issue remained stalled since the last round of meeting was held in Beijing last November.

The last round of talks, involving China, DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, ended up with a Chairman's Statement, in which the parties concerned agreed to resume the talks as soon as possible.

Following DPRK's nuclear test on Monday, China has been engaged in a string of diplomatic activities.

Chinese President Hu Jintao late on Monday held phone talks with U.S. President George W. Bush, exchanging views on the DPRK nuclear test.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing exchanged views via phone with his counterparts from the United States, European Union, Britain and Canada.

China's State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan headed to the United States on Wednesday as a special envoy of President Hu Jintao.

"Tang will discuss the Korean Peninsula situation with senior U.S. officials," spokesman said.

Tang will also pay a working visit to Russia.

The ROK President Roh Moo-hyun will arrive in Beijing on Friday.

During Roh's one-day working visit, President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao will hold talks or meet with him respectively, Liu said.

"They will mainly discuss bilateral relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula," Liu said.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's possible visit to Beijing is also under arrangement, the spokesman said.

Editor: Donald