We call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other: Foreign minister
\nMonitoring Desk
\nChina has warned that \u201cconflict could break out at any moment\u201d as tension over North Korea increases.
\nForeign Minister Wang Yi said if war occurred there could be no winner.
\nMr Wang\u2019s comments come as the US voices increasing concern at North Korea\u2019s development of nuclear weapons and deploys a Navy carrier group off the Korean peninsula.
\nChina, North Korea\u2019s only backer, fears conflict could cause the regime to collapse and problems on its border.
\nMr Wang said: \u201cLately, tensions have risen between on the one hand the United States and the Republic of Korea [South Korea] and on the other, the DPRK [North Korea] and one has the feeling that a conflict could break out at any moment.
\n\u201cI think that all relevant parties should be highly vigilant with regards to this situation.\u201d
\nThe foreign minister added: \u201cWe call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, whether in words or actions, and not let the situation get to an irreversible and unmanageable stage.\u201d
\nAdding to Chinese unease, President Donald Trump tweeted on Tuesday that the US was not afraid of acting alone on North Korea.
\n\u201cIf China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them! U.S.A.\u201d
\nThe US president has recently demonstrated his willingness to resort to military methods. He ordered a cruise missile attack on Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack, and the US military just used a huge bombagainst so-called Islamic State in Afghanistan.
\nWashington is concerned North Korea might develop the ability to launch a nuclear weapon at the US.
\nMr Trump and China\u2019s President Xi Jinping have been in contact by phone since their summit last week in Florida, and Reuters quotes US officials as saying tougher economic sanctions against North Korea are also being considered.
\nChina is concerned any conflict could lead to a huge refugee problem on its border with North Korea. But, in a sign of growing frustration with its neighbour, it recently blocked coal imports from the North.
\nThere is also intense speculation that North Korea could carry out a sixth nuclear bomb test or another missile launch – possibly a long-range missile – on Saturday.
\nSaturday marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of its first leader, Kim Il-sung.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We call on all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other: Foreign minister Monitoring Desk China has warned that \u201cconflict could break out at any moment\u201d as tension over North Korea increases. Foreign Minister Wang Yi said if war occurred there could be no winner. Mr Wang\u2019s comments come as the US voices […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14514,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-16130","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-lead-cpec","8":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n