Earlier in the day, the Japanese Defense Ministry confirmed that the North Korean authorities had fired three ballistic missiles from Hwangju county in the direction of the Sea of Japan. Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada interrupted her visit to a military base near the Nerima district in Tokyo due to the launch.
"China’s position on the matter is unchanged and clear. The current situation on the Korean Peninsula is complicated and sensitive. We hope that the relevant parties will avoid actions which could lead to the escalation of tensions there. Instead, they should work in the interest of peace and stability on the peninsula," Hua said.
North Korea has been under pressure from the international community since its January nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch in February, which resulted in the tightening of sanctions against Pyongyang in a new UN Security Council resolution in March.
On August 3, North Korea launched two missiles. One of them exploded immediately after the launch, while the other one flew over the country's territory and fell into the Sea of Japan.
