Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu on Wednesday criticized Japan saying it would launch "a preemptive strike" against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), calling the move "extremely irresponsible."

 

Jiang said this when asked to comment on Japanese politicians' repeated statements that Japan should launch a "preemptive strike" against the DPRK, according to sources with the Ministry.

 

Jiang said that at a time when the international community is trying to resolve the issue through peaceful diplomacy, Japan's remarks are "extremely irresponsible" and hard to understand.

 

Any Japanese strike against the DPRK would only severely interfere with international diplomatic efforts and aggravate tensions in Northeast Asia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 13, 2006)