China is calling on South and North Korea to exercise restraint amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said that China strongly appeals to relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint, act in a responsible manner and avoid an increase in tensions.

Her remarks follow new tensions that have resulted from South Korea’s live-fire artillery drills in waters near Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea on Monday.

Jiang added that China has taken note of recent developments in the situation on the peninsula and believes that maintaining peace and stability is in the interest of the two Koreas and all other relevant parties.

China's deputy permanent representative to the U.N. Wang Min told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York that China is firmly urging South and North Korea to stay calm and to resolve issues through peaceful dialogue.