Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking about the Korean Peninsula during a wide-ranging news conference on Tuesday. PHOTOS BY FENGYONGBIN/ CHINA DAILY

ROK President Park Geun-hye has called for five-party talks, without the DPRK, and Ruan said "other parties should encourage the DPRK to get back to the table".

"Currently, the most demanding task is to secure stability, as the DPRK has responded fiercely to the UN resolution, while the US and the ROK are conducting more military drills on the peninsula," Ruan said.

Huang Youfu, a Korean studies professor at Minzu University of China in Beijing, said the greater flexibility is producing space for China and other parties as well.

Success in resuming negotiations on the nuclear issue will depend on the attitudes of Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul, Huang added.

When asked about recent China-DPRK ties, Wang said Beijing "will not accommodate" Pyongyang's pushing its nuclear and missile programs, while Pyongyang's need for development and security will be supported.

"China and the DPRK enjoy a normal state-to-state relationship with a deep tradition of friendship," the senior diplomat said. "China both values friendship and stands on principles."