China strongly urges both sides of the Korean Peninsula to keep calm and restraint, solve issues through peaceful dialogue and engagement, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Wang Min said?on Monday.

Wang made the remarks to reporters at the United Nations Headquarter in New York. He said China has taken note of the latest developments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Maintaining peace and stability on the Peninsula is in the interest of both the South and the North of the Peninsula, as well as other relevant parties, he said.

"We strongly appeal relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint, act in a responsible manner and avoid increase of tensions," Wang told reporters.

The Security Council met for an emergency close-door meeting on Sunday that lasted about eight hours, but failed to reach consensus due to gaps among the council members.

Wang said China on Sunday supported Russia's proposal to call for an urgent meeting of the Security Council on the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

"Members of the Council, including China, the United States and Russia have made efforts to the extent possible to avoid armed conflict on the Peninsula. The meeting was positive and of great importance," he said.

South Korea staged a live-fire artillery drill in the sensitive area of Yonphyong Island off the west coast earlier on Monday. The army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) dealt no counterattack to the drill.

"Calm rather than tension, dialogue rather than confrontation, peace rather than warfare. This is the strong aspiration and voice of the peoples from both sides of the Peninsula and the international community," said Wang.

He said China recently has spared no efforts to engage both sides of the Peninsula and relevant parties through various channels, in order to avoid broadening of differences and escalation of tensions.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo paid urgent visits to South Korea and the DPRK respectively, conducting candid and thorough discussions with leaders of the two countries. He urged the two sides to maintain calm and show restraint, pursue dialogue and engagement, and avoid taking any action that may worsen the situation.

During the last several days, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China also urgently met with ambassadors of both the DPRK and the ROK in Beijing, reiterating for several times China's views and positions, Wang said.

"China strongly urges both sides of the Peninsula to keep calm and restraint, solve issues through peaceful dialogue and engagement. China will continue to make our efforts toward this end," Wang said.