China urges restraint before satellite launch

China on Friday urged restraint ahead of the launch of a Democratic People's Republic of Korea satellite, after Tokyo said it was readying its missile defense systems to shoot it down if it posed any threat to Japan.

"All parties should keep calm and exercise restraint, and refrain from actions that would complicate the issue," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters.

The United States, the Republic of Korea and other nations see the DPRK's move as a pretext for a long-range missile test banned by the UN.

The move by the DPRK has set off alarm bells across the region. China has expressed concern over the launch and urged restraint.

Hong said Beijing had made immediate contact with the DPRK, Russia, Japan, the United States and other parties when it found out about the planned launch.

"We stressed that peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia are in the common interest of all parties and also their common responsibility," he said.

Japan resolution

Japan's upper house adopted a resolution on Friday urging the DPRK to halt its planned satellite launch next month.

The planned launch that employs ballistic missile technology was a "violation" of a UN Security Council resolution, Japan's resolution said.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda told the parliament that if the DPRK insisted on the launch, such a move would undermine efforts to solve outstanding issues through dialogue.

Japanese Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka said on Monday he was mulling an order for the Self-Defense Forces to intercept the rocket if it passes through Japan's skies.

Tanaka said the ministry would take thorough measures to protect the country if necessary and planned to deploy ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors or PAC 3, missile defense system and Aegis-equipped destroyers, local media reported.

The DPRK announced last week it would launch an "earth observation" satellite, or the Kwangmyongsong-3, using a long-range rocket to mark the 100th birthday of late leader Kim Il-sung.

The satellite will be launched from a station in North Phyongan province between April 12 and 16, the DPRK's Korean Central News Agency reported, citing a spokesman for the Korean Committee for Space Technology.

The DPRK's atomic program is expected to be the subject of discussion at the talks on Monday and Tuesday, which will be attended by Chinese President Hu Jintao, US President Barack Obama and the leaders of Japan and Russia.

Xinhua-AFP