China opposes DPRK missile launch

BEIJING - China opposes the missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said Tuesday.

The Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement Tuesday that the DPRK fired off a ballistic missile into its eastern waters from an area near Banghyeon, North Pyongan Province in the DPRK's northwest at around 9:40 a.m. local time (0040 GMT).

The DPRK declared later in the day that it has successfully launched an international ballistic missile, calling it a milestone in its missile development program.

"China urges the DPRK to refrain from acts that violate UN Security Council resolutions so as to create necessary conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiation," Geng said at a regular news briefing.

Given the complex and sensitive situation on the Korean Peninsula, China hopes all sides can exercise calm and restraint to ease tensions there and return to the right path of peaceful dialogue, the spokesperson said.

UN Security Council resolutions ban the DPRK from conducting any launches that use ballistic missile technology, nuclear tests or any other provocation.