Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A top Chinese Army official has asked North Korea to “abandon its nuclear program” and invited the international community to “keep calm”, despite the recent nuclear missile tests carried out by Pyongyang. South Korean and United States sources however warn that the communist regime is ready to experiment “another long range missile”.

General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, says China has expressed great concern about the nuclear test: "China's stance on the issue is consistent," he said, "We are opposed to nuclear proliferation." He spoke at the 2009 Asian Security Summit in Singapore adding that “the Korean peninsula should move toward denuclearization”.  The Army Chief also voiced China’s hopes that “all parties concerned will remain cool-headed and take measures to address the problem”.

South Korea and U.S. intelligence authorities have reportedly detected signs at the Musudan-ri launch site in North Korea that show the North is preparing to launch a Daepodong Two long-range missile. Seoul intelligence suspects the North is likely to be preparing to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBC), that could take place “in two weeks”.