China on Tuesday urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to improve bilateral relations through dialogue, and realize reconciliation and cooperation.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told a regular press conference that this is in the common interest of the people in the Korean Peninsula and is also the shared expectation of the international community.

Relations between Pyongyang and Seoul have turned sour since last February, when the ROK President Lee Myung-bak took office with a pledge to get tough with the DPRK. The DPRK has cut off all official contact with the ROK.

The DPRK on Jan. 17 announced that it would take an "all-out confrontational" stand against the ROK for its confrontational policy.

As for China-DPRK relations, Jiang said a series of activities are to be held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of ties and the "Year of China-DPRK Friendship".

"We hope that these exchanges and activities will consolidate the bilateral traditional friendship, deepen the reciprocal cooperation and further promote the development of China-DPRK relations," Jiang said.

China and the DPRK forged diplomatic relations on Oct. 6 1949.

(Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2009)