China urges peace stability on Korean peninsula

China on Tuesday called for efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula when responding to a joint military drill between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States. "It is in the fundamental interests of all parties to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and northeast Asia. We expect all parties to do more to ease tensions on the peninsula and promote regional peace and stability," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily press briefing. Hua made the remarks when asked to comment on an ongoing ROK-U.S. military exercise and a possible exercise by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Regarding the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)'s discussion of the DPRK's latest nuclear test, Hua said China supports the UNSC's response in which it showed its opposition to the test. The DPRK conducted its most recent nuclear test on Feb. 12, marking its third test following nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, respectively. Hua called for the UNSC's response to be prudent and moderate. "It [the UNSC's response] should be able to help realize the peninsula's denuclearization, prevent nuclear proliferation and safeguard peace and stability in northeast Asia," Hua said. Hua said China has maintained close communications with related parties at the UNSC and other occassions.