China urges countries to stay 'calm' after North Korea satellite launch

China has asked countries to remain “calm and restrained” after North Korea said that it has successfully launched a spy satellite, sparking condemnation from countries like the US and South Korea.

“All parties concerned should remain calm and restrained, look squarely at the crux of the problem, adhere to the general direction of a political settlement, and do more to help ease tensions,” foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a regular briefing when asked about the launch.

On Tuesday, North Korea said it had placed its first spy satellite in orbit, vowing to add more in the future. The move prompted South Korea to suspend part of a military agreement it signed with Pyongyang in 2018 after the isolated North defied warnings from the United States and its allies and launched a spy satellite.

North Korea’s KCNA state news agency said the Malligyong-1 satellite was launched on a Chollima-1 rocket from the Sohae satellite launch facility at 10:42 p.m. (1342 GMT) on Tuesday and entered orbit at 10:54 p.m. (1354 GMT). KCNA cited North Korea’s National Aerospace Technology Administration.

Pyongyang had reportedly informed Japan about its plans to launch a satellite between 22 November to 1 December.

South Korea says that the latest rocket fired is carrying a reconnaissance satellite. Aegis-system-equipped destroyers from South Korea, Japan and the United States were in the position to track the launch vehicle and share information.

With inputs from agencies