China focused on N Korean rocket launch

China on Tuesday reiterated that it is paying close attention to North Korea's satellite launch plan and vowed to maintain communication with all parties, including the North and the US, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Responding to a report that Pyongyang appears to be disassembling a long-range rocket it was planning to launch according to satellite images, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, "We have noticed the report and are paying close attention to the situation." North Korea said Monday that the period in which it was planning to launch a scientific satellite had been extended to Dec. 29, one week behind the original Dec. 10-22 window. "China holds a clear and consistent stance on the issue. We are in communication with all parties, including the DPRK (North Korea) and the US," Hong was quoted as telling a press briefing in Beijing. China is closest ally and main aid provider. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi had a phone call with his US counterpart Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Dec. 7, according to Hong. "We hope parties concerned can take a long-term perspective, deal with this calmly and appropriately, avoid taking actions that may further escalate the situation, and jointly maintain the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region as a whole," Hong said.