China Opposes North Korea Missile Launches - Foreign Ministry

China strongly opposes North Korea launching missiles, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Monday amid the latest Pyongyang missile laucnhes.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — China is against North Korea launching missiles, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Monday following the latest reports of Pyongyang firing four missiles.

"As for the launches by North Korea, we have seen the information… China opposes launches," ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said.

The UNSC resolution has clear provisions on missile launches carried out by North Korea with the use of ballistic missile technology, Geng added.

"We also noted that the launches [by North Korea] were made in the light of large-scale joint military exercises [of the United States and South Korea]. Under the existing circumstances, relevant parties should exercise restraint and avoid actions that can provoke each other or lead to the escalation of regional tension," the ministerial spokesman stressed.

Three of the four missiles North Korea reportedly launched earlier in the day fell into the Japanese exclusive economic zone in the Sea of Japan without inflicting damages, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

Earlier in the day, Japan and South Korea expressed concern over North Korea’s launch of missiles. South Korean military claimed that the missiles had flown more than 600 miles (1,000 kilometers).

Last week, North Korea had promised to respond to the South Korean-US military maneuvers, which began on March 1.