China opposes unilateral sanctions against North Korea

China on Friday said it opposes unilateral sanctions against North Korea, for efforts to avoid complicating the situation, Xinhua news agency reported.

"China is against any unilateral sanction in international affairs," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press briefing in response to possible US sanctions against North Korea.

The US House of Representatives recently proposed sanctions against countries, businesses or individuals that assist North Korea nuclear and ballistic missile programs, export luxury goods to the North Korea or engage with Pyongyang in money laundering, counterfeiting or drug trafficking.

"The United Nations Security Council is discussing a resolution on the recent DPRK (North Korea) nuclear test," Lu said. "We hope parties concerned can meet each other halfway, and avoid complicating the situation."

When asked whether China will take "more serious" moves against the North Korea, Lu said China's Special Representative on the Korean Peninsular affairs Wu Dawei's visit to Pyongyang was "a very serious diplomatic effort."

Tensions on the peninsula have escalated since the North Korea claimed it conducted a hydrogen bomb test on Jan. 6.

On Tuesday, North Korea informed three UN entities of its intention to launch an earth-observation satellite between Feb. 8 and 25.

Source: MENA