China said on Tuesday that a draft resolution at the United Nations urging sanctions over the missile test of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is an overreaction.

"China thinks the concerned draft resolution is an overreaction. If approved, it will escalate the contradictions and increase tension," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular press briefing on Tuesday.

"The draft resolution will harm the peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asian region and hurt efforts to resume the six-party talks and split the UN Security Council," Jiang said. "The draft resolution requires a substantial revision."

"China is gravely concerned about the current situation and supports the proper reaction from the UN Security Council," she said.

Japan formally presented a draft 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.

China can not accept any measure which is overreacted or may lead to a worsened situation, Jiang said.

"It is proper for the UN Security Council to pass a presidential statement which sends a clear and strong signal," she said.

China oppose any action that would strain the situation in northeast Asia, Jiang said, stating "China hopes the parties concerned will keep calmness and restraint, refrain from steps that would further complicate the situation."

China would like to work with the parties concerned to resume the six-party talks as soon as possible, Jiang said.

The last round of six-party talks, involving China, the 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.

As the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula has prolonged for more than five decades, it is impossible to resolve the issue through one or two visits, the spokeswoman said.

"The diplomatic efforts take time, thus all parties should be patient and play constructive roles," she said.

China on Monday introduced a draft UN Security Council presidential statement on Pyongyang's missile launch, calling for the concerned parties to work together on the early resumption of the six-party talks on Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill headed back to Beijing Tuesday afternoon after talks with officials of the Republic of Korea and Japan, following Pyongyang's missile tests last week.

"The Chinese government has an important diplomatic mission going on, so we want to be in close consultation with the Chinese government," Hill said.

According to Jiang, China is still working on Hill's meeting schedules in Beijing.

This is Hill's second visit to Beijing within a week. Last Friday, he discussed with Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing on how to break the deadlock on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Source: Xinhua