China Sends Nuclear Envoy to Pyongyang

File photo shows Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]  

China has sent its chief nuclear envoy to Pyongyang amid rising tensions in the region.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang confirmed the trip by Wu Daiwei, China"s special representative to the Six-Party Talks.

According to Lu, the diplomat has met with senior North Korean officials during his 3-day trip, which kicked off on Tuesday.

"A major topic is the bilateral relations between China and North Korea, another one, of course, is the current situation on the Korean Peninsula."

The visit comes as North Korea plans to launch what it called an "earth observation satellite" some time between February 8 and 25.

The plan triggered worries that the launch could be used as a cover for a long-range missile test by the country, just weeks after its fourth nuclear test on January 6.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, via his spokesman, called on North Korea to refrain from using "ballistic missile technology.

China earlier warned that it will not allow the Korean Peninsula to descend into war or chaos, calling on Pyongyang to exercise restraint.