China and Russia have urged South and North Korea to calm down and refrain from escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

China's Xinhua News Agency on Sunday reported that Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Saturday night called for restraint from all parties concerned to avoid escalation of tension on the peninsula.

During a phone conversation with Lavrov, Yang reportedly said that China firmly opposes any actions that can cause tension and worsen the situation, demanding the two Koreas to show calmness and restraint, and also to carry out dialogue and contact.

Lavrov replied that Russia is closely watching the developments on the peninsula, also calling for utmost calmness and restraint from the two sides.