China has called on relevant countries to seek a political settlement for issues involving North Korea, as the North announces a planned launch of a satellite.
North Korea has said it will launch a satellite sometime between November 22 and 30, which is in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in a news conference on Tuesday that China has noted relevant reports.
She said her country has also noted, "the frequent appearance of US strategic bombers and aircraft carrier battle groups lately in the area of the Korean Peninsula."
South Korea's defense ministry said on the same day a US aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, arrived in the southeastern port city of Busan. Mao's remark apparently refers to this move.
The spokesperson said China urges relevant countries to "stop engaging in confrontation and pressuring, take concrete steps to pursue a political settlement of those issues and maintain peace and stability on the Peninsula."
Mao also said, "It is the US that holds the key" to solving the issues concerning the Korean Peninsula. She added China is committed to "the process seeking a political settlement of the Peninsula issues."
Beijing has been opposing additional sanctions and pressure against North Korea, saying such moves could force Pyeongyang to speed up its nuclear and missile development.