The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) did not discuss growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula during a regular meeting held Monday.

The meeting was instead devoted to the issue of Côte d'Ivoire, which is on the verge of a civil war following a presidential election in November.

However, China's deputy permanent representative to the U.N. Wang Min told reporters that China is strongly urging the two Koreas to stay calm and to resolve issues through peaceful dialogue.

Wang said that China supported Russia’s call for an urgent meeting to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula on Sunday. He said that although the meeting’s participants failed to reach a consensus on the situation, the meeting was positive and of great importance.

In the eight-hour emergency meeting, the UNSC failed to adopt a statement on North Korea’s attack on South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island last month and the March sinking of the South’s “Cheonan” naval vessel, reportedly due to China’s objection.