China yesterday expressed "serious concern" over Pyongyang's missile tests and urged all sides to "remain calm and restrained."

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) yesterday morning reportedly test-fired a barrage of missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2, increasing regional tensions and generating an international outcry.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement: "We hope that all sides remain calm and exercise restraint, do more things conducive to the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, and refrain from further steps that will add to tensions and complicate the situation."

At least six missiles were launched early in the morning and a seventh some 12 hours later, officials in Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) said. US President George W. Bush said the DPRK move defied the international community.

Liu stressed that China has made unremitting efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, maintain regional peace and stability and push forward the Six-Party Talks.

"We will continue to work together with all the other parties and play a constructive role," he said.

After the missile tests, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing "exchanged views on the latest developments of the situation" on the phone with his counterparts in the United States, Japan, the ROK and Australia, the Foreign Ministry said, giving no details.

In the first comment from the DPRK, foreign ministry official Ri Pyong-dok reportedly said the launches were "something concerning sovereignty."

"We will not be restricted by any agreement regarding this issue," he told a group of Japanese journalists visiting the country, according to Japan's Kyodo News.

"No one has the right to question whether that (the missile tests) is right or wrong."

The test launches triggered a flurry of diplomatic initiatives, headlined by a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to be convened later yesterday upon the request of Japan.

The United States warned Pyongyang against any more provocative acts, and said Washington would take necessary measures to protect itself and its allies.

"The United States strongly condemns these missile launches and North Korea's unwillingness to heed calls for restraint from the international community," White House spokesman Tony Snow said in a statement.

The ROK, which has a policy of engagement with its neighbour, put its military on high alert and condemned the move which it said had threatened regional stability.

In a statement from President Roh Moo-hyun's office, the government also pledged to try to engage Pyongyang in a "patient dialogue" to calm tensions.

Japan called the launches a "grave problem," put its troops on a higher state of alert and unleashed a package of sanctions including a ban on DPRK diplomats entering the country.

Russia yesterday summoned the DPRK ambassador over the missile tests while the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its "serious concern" and called on Pyongyang to return to its seven-year moratorium on such launches.

Yan Xuetong, director of the Institute of International Studies at Tsinghua University, said the test-firing will not benefit Pyongyang and could further complicate the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

The DPRK "has obviously tried hard to get out of the current stalemate surrounding its nuclear programme by test-firing missiles to draw international attention," he told China Daily.

"But such a move will certainly give the United States and Japan an excuse to adopt a tougher stance."

The researcher predicted that the missile tests would prompt Washington and Tokyo to strengthen their military alliance in the Asia-Pacific region and thus leave Pyongyang at a more disadvantageous position.

"The tests will undoubtedly create more difficulties for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks," Yan added.

The six-nation talks, which began in 2003, have been at a standstill since November as Pyongyang condemns Washington's financial restrictions against its alleged currency counterfeiting and other illicit activities.

Source: China Daily