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There can be no winners in a war between the US and North Korea, China's Foreign Minister says, while pledging support for dialogue between the sides.
Key points:
- China has pledged support for dialogue between US and North Korea
- Air China has suspended flights from Beijing to Pyongyang, starting Monday
- Beijing says it will respond harshly to further nuclear tests by North Korea
Wang Yi's comments mark the latest attempt to cool tensions by North Korea's most important ally and key provider of food and fuel aid.
Any fighting on the Korean Peninsula is likely to draw in China, which has repeatedly expressed concerns about a wave of refugees and the possible presence of US and South Korean troops on its border.
China has also grown increasingly frustrated with the refusal of Kim Jong-un's regime to heed its admonitions, and in February cut off imports of North Korean coal that provide Pyongyang with a crucial source of foreign currency.
Starting on Monday, Chinese flag carrier Air China will suspend flights from Beijing to Pyongyang, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
No reason was given for the suspension.
Air China and North Korea's Air Koryo are the only two airlines serving that route, with the latter operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
"Once a war really happens, the result will be nothing but multiple loss. No-one can become a winner," Mr Wang told reporters at a news conference with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.
"Therefore, we call upon all the parties, no matter verbally or in action, to stop provoking and threatening each other and not to allow the situation to become irretrievable and out of control," Mr Wang said.
He urged all sides to take a flexible approach to resuming dialogue.
"As long as dialogue takes place, it can be official or unofficial, through one channel or dual channels, bilateral or multilateral. China is willing to give support to all of them."
Mr Wang last month urged North Korea to suspend its nuclear weapon and missile tests in exchange for South Korea and the US putting their war games on hold, reviving a proposal first raised by Pyongyang.
Washington swiftly dismissed the idea, but some observers have said administration officials may be becoming more amenable to renewed dialogue with the North.
Earlier on Friday, North Korea's Vice Minister Han Song Ryol said his country would keep building up its nuclear arsenal in "quality and quantity" and said Pyongyang is ready to go to war if that was what President Donald Trump wanted.
Chinese experts said they saw little immediate possibility of hostilities breaking out, but warned Beijing would respond harshly to any further North Korean nuclear tests.
AP
Topics: world-politics, unrest-conflict-and-war, korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of, korea-republic-of, united-states, china, asia, pacific