Beijing concerned over Pyongyang satellite launch plan

China was "seriously concerned" about the North Korea plan to launch a satellite later this month, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Lu Kang told a press briefing that Beijing hopes Pyongyang will exercise restraint on the issue and deal with it prudently to avoid possible escalation in tensions, Xinhua reported.

North Korea is entitled to the peaceful use of outer space, yet this right was restricted by resolutions of the UNSC, Lu said.

China will continue to communicate with all parties concerned to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, he said.

It is a shared responsibility of all parties concerned to maintain peace on the peninsula, and regional stability is in the interests of all sides, the spokesperson added.

A UN spokesperson said on Tuesday that three UN organisations have been informed that North Korea plans to launch an earth-observation satellite between February 8 and 25.