By Li Hongmei

Hong Lei, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said Tuesday that China regrets the statement made by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) saying it intends to reopen its nuclear facilities.

Pyongyang says it will restart operations at the Nyongbyon nuclear facility, which was shut down under an agreement made at the six-party talks held in October 2007.

"We have noticed the statement made by the DPRK and feel regretful about it," Hong said at a Tuesday press briefing.

Hong said China has constantly advocated denuclearizing the Korean peninsula and maintaining peace and stability in the peninsula and northeast Asia.

"We are calling for all parties concerned to remain calm and restrained, return to dialogue and consultation as soon as possible and jointly seek ways to appropriately resolve the issue," Hong said.

Tension has been escalating on the peninsula after Pyongyang ran a test missile launch last month, despite calls for restraint from the international community. In response, the UN has tightened sanctions against the country, the US and South Korea have conducted a joint military exercise, and the US flew a bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons to its southern ally.

The DPRK, after unilaterally terminating the cease-fire it held with the South, commenced live-fire exercises aimed at a South Korean island close to the border, along with verbal threats of battle readiness and potential declarations of war. The nuclear threat is now its latest bristling against international denouncements.