"Presently the Korean peninsula has witnessed some new complicated elements. As a close neighbor, China is seriously concerned," state television quoted Hu as saying.

"China opposes any action that may worsen the situation on the Korean peninsula and hopes all relevant parties can act in a way conducive to the stability of the peninsula," he added.

Hu made the remarks when meeting with visiting Vice President of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong-Sop, who arrived in Beijing earlier Tuesday for a five-day visit.

Yang's arrival in Beijing comes amid efforts to cool tensions triggered by North Korea's test of seven ballistic missiles and coincides with a visit to Pyongyang by China's top negotiator on the North Korean nuclear issue Wu Dawei.

Last week's tests have resulted in a series of diplomatic exchanges with Japan, the United States and other countries seeking a UN Security Council resolution that could result in sanctions on the North.

Hu's comments came as leading US diplomat on the North Korean issue Christopher Hill returned to Beijing after stop-overs in Seoul and Tokyo and was expected to meet with Chinese officials late in the evening ostensibly to be briefed on the day's events.

China's foreign ministry, meanwhile, said the draft UN Security Council resolution backed by Japan and the United States was an "overreaction" that would likely lead to an intensification of the situation.

Beijing has instead proposed a non-binding UN presidential statement expressing "serious concern" over Pyongyang's actions but void of the possibility of sanctions.

"China has always been committed to maintaining the peace and stability on the peninsula, and insisted on resolving the relevant issues through peaceful dialogue and negotiations," Hu told Yang.

China would remain in close contact with all relevant parties to overcome difficulties and create conditions to push forward the six party talks process on the North Korean nuclear issue, he said.

The six nations involved include host China, as well as the United States, the two Koreas, Japan and Russia.

"The DPRK ... is willing to make efforts as in the past to go along with China to further develop DPRK-China relations and safeguard peace and security on the Korean peninsula and in the region," state television quoted Yang as telling Hu.

The reciprocal visits between China and North Korea were announced before North Korea's missile tests last week and were originally set up to commemorate the 45th anniversary of a friendship treaty between the two neighbors, China's foreign ministry said.

"Whatever may happen, China will continue to unswervingly commit itself to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, promoting the six-party talks and pursuing a nuclear-free Korean peninsula," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told journalists Tuesday when commenting on the visits.

"We ask all sides to remain calm, exercise restraint and take positive actions to ease the current tensions so as to create favorable conditions to resume the six-party talks."

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