Beijing Urges Koreas to Stop Provocations After Reports of Missile Launches

Seoul and Pyongyang should cease all provocations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Thursday, after the South Korean military reported that the North had launched ballistic missiles.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea has fired two short-range missiles in the direction of the Sea of Japan.

"We call for all the sides to stop these provocative actions and statements, to prevent a further escalation of the situation. It is in the interests of all parties," Hong said.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula escalated after North Korea successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test in early January and put a satellite into orbit a month later, violating UN Security Council resolutions and triggering condemnation from the international community.