BEIJING: Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing talked yesterday with his 12 counterparts on the review by the United Nations Security Council on the test-firing of missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Li exchanged views on the issue in phone conversations with foreign ministers of eleven member countries of the UN Security Council and the Republic of Korea.

Li stressed that any action should be conducive to maintaining the peace and stability in the region and the unity of the UN Security Council."

Li had discussed with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on UN's response to the missile tests by the DPRK via telephone on Saturday.

China believes that instead of seeking sanctions against Pyongyang, the UN Security Council can best make a unanimous and firm response to DPRK's missile launch "through a statement that sends a strong message," said Wang Guangya, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on Friday.

The Chinese diplomat also said that the UN Security Council, as the most important world organization, should take action responsibly and take into account all possible negative consequences that might result.

Japan presented a draft Security Council resolution on Friday, seeking sanctions against the DPRK.

The draft, co-sponsored by Britain, France and the United States, invokes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which authorizes sanctions or even military action.

Earlier on Thursday, the DPRK Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the latest missile launches were part of routine military exercises staged by the DPRK army which is upgrading the nation's military self-defence capacity.

Source: China Daily