"One basic condition supported by South Korea, the US and Japan is what the North agreed in the September 19 Joint Statement issued in 2005 through the six-party talks to get rid of all of its nuclear weapons and related programs", he added.
Voice of America's Washington bureau chief Steve Herman disputed notions that the United States was readying a possible preemptive strike, but said retaliation was "likely" if North Korea conducted another nuclear test.
Beijing has repeatedly called for a "dual-track and suspension" approach where the North would stop its nuclear and missile activities in exchange for the US and South Korea halting military exercises. If China decides to help, that would be great.
"We've got a powerful nuclear deterrent already in our hands, and we certainly will not keep our arms crossed in the face of a United States pre-emptive strike".
Many North Korea watchers believe North Korea could have a viable nuclear warhead and a ballistic missile capable of hitting the United States mainland on Mr Trump's watch as president - within the next few years.
It's hard to imagine what a telephone conversation between President Xi Jinping of China and U.S. President Donald Trump would be like.
"Military force can not resolve the issue", Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Reuters in Beijing.
There are reports of activity at a nuclear test site in North Korea ahead of Saturday's 105th anniversary of the birth of the country's founder Kim Il-Sung.
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It was stark evidence that the president is moving ever further from his campaign promises to establish better ties with Moscow . Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's trip to Russian Federation , spoke to a widening chasm between the former Cold War foes.
Around 200 foreign journalists are in Pyongyang for North Korea's biggest national day called "Day of the Sun".
The US and other foreign governments have long overestimated China's ability to affect Pyongyang's behavior, said Ruan Zongze, a US relations expert at the China Institute of International Studies, a think tank run by the foreign ministry.
Chinese media have now reported that Beijing has also said that North Korea should not make a sixth nuclear test. North Korea has amassed "substantial amount" of chemical weapons produced at several facilities, he added, without citing sources.
Beijing's insistence on a peaceful approach to resolving the issue is rooted in its belief that any attempt to denuclearize the North by force would bring cataclysmic results upon all sides, including China, Ruan said.
The annual military exercises have consistently infuriated the North, which views them as rehearsals for an invasion. And with U.S. -South Korean wargames ongoing, North Korean has intensified rhetoric warning it would retaliate strongly against any aggression.
This suggests that the North wants to improve relations with the outside world to avoid isolation from the global community, according to South Korea's Ministry of Unification. "It is unlikely that the US takes a pre-emptive strike but what is concerning is what reaction Trump will take in case a person like Kim Jong-un provokes even inadvertently", he added.
The North Korean foreign ministry said the U.S. was bringing "huge nuclear strategic assets" to the area.
Expectations are high the North may put its newest missiles on display during a military parade that could be held to mark the event.
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