China urges dialogue with North Korea, embassies operating normally
China on Sunday said its embassy in Pyongyang was still "operating normally" following North Korea's warning to diplomats that it could only guarantee their safety until Wednesday.
"As far as I know, the Chinese embassy in North Korea is operating normally," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
Hong said Beijing had asked North Korea to protect the safety and interests of Chinese citizens and businesses in the country.
No other embassies appeared to be planning to evacuate from the North Korean capital, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
"We don't believe there's any foreign mission about to leave Pyongyang," one South Korean official was quoted as saying. "Most foreign governments view the North Korean message as a way of ratcheting up tension on the Korean Peninsula."
Hong said China had expressed "serious concern" at the escalation of tension on the Korean Peninsula.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the situation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon by telephone Saturday, the ministry said.
China believes the tension should be resolved through dialogue "no matter how the situation changes," Wang was quoted as telling Ban. He said China opposed "any provocative words and action from any party" and wanted to resume six-nation dialogue involving North Korea, the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia.
Ban expressed "deep concern and worry" over the rising tension, the ministry said.
