A television screen shows a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on January 11, 2022. (Photo by AFP)

China has warned all relevant parties against making hasty judgment after North Korea reportedly test-fired a projectile, which was harshly slammed by South Korea and the United States.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing on Tuesday that the nature of the projectile needed to be further judged.

We hope that relevant parties will be prudent in words and deeds and work together to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, he added.

Wang also said that all sides needed to address their respective concerns through dialog and consultation, and take the parallel-track, phased and synchronized approach to advance the political settlement process of the Korean Peninsula issue.

He said the situation on the Peninsula is at an important and sensitive time.

South Korea and Japan said on Tuesday that the North had fired an unidentified projectile from its Jangang Province, near the border with China. Seoul expressed strong regret. US Forces Korea also said in a statement that the missile launch highlighted the destabilizing impact of (North Korea’s) illicit weapons program.

Pyongyang is under harsh UN sanctions for its missile and nuclear activities.

Wang said, China always believes that the UN Security Council should play a positive and constructive role, and any action should be conducive to peace and stability of the Peninsula and the resumption of dialog between the parties concerned.

North Korea says it is open to resume peace talks but only if the United States and others drop hostile policies.

The two Koreas are still technically at war as the 1950-53 war between them ended in a truce and not a peace treaty. Communication between the two neighbors has largely been cut since 2019.