China urges restraint as N. Korea fires short-range projectiles

China called for calm and restraint on Thursday as North Korea fired short-range projectiles into the sea, in an apparent show of defiance hours after the U.N. Security Council approved tougher sanctions over its fourth nuclear test and rocket launch.

"We hope that relevant parties can keep calm, exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that may escalate tensions," China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

Hong said the new U.N. resolution could be "fully and earnestly" implemented, but it should not affect the "normal lives" of the North Korean people.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted the tougher sanctions in response to North Korea's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6 and rocket launch on Feb. 6, but China's cooperation is the key to the effective implementation of the measures. (Yonhap)