Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing talked yesterday with his 12 counterparts on the review by the UN Security Council on North Korea's missile test-firing.

 

Li exchanged views on the issue in phone conversations with foreign ministers of eleven member countries of the Security Council as well as South Korea.

 

Li stressed that any action should be conducive to maintaining the peace and stability in the region and the unity of the Security Council.

 

Li had discussed with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the UN's response to the missile tests by North Korea via telephone on Saturday.

 

North Korea launched seven missiles Wednesday morning, and the UN Security Council met the same day for an emergency meeting on the issue.

 

Jiang Yu, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, said earlier that China hopes the UN response to North Korea's missile tests will be helpful in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

 

China believes that instead of seeking sanctions against Pyongyang, the Security Council can best make a unanimous and firm response to its missile launch "through a statement that sends a strong message," Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya said on Friday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2006)