China calls for 'calm' after N Korea's rocket failure

China, a key ally of North Korea, on Friday called for "calm and restraint" from the international community after Pyongyang's failed rocket launch drew strong condemnation from the United States and its allies.

Reacting cautiously to the failure of rocket launch of its close ally, it called on all "relevant sides" to maintain calm and restraint in a bid to avoid any move that could escalate the tensions in the region.

China hopes all relevant sides can maintain "calm and restraint" in the wake of a failed satellite launch by the emocratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told a media briefing.

"China stresses that the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in north eastern Asia is a common responsibility of and in the interests of all sides," he said, without elaborating whether Beijing would counsel Pyongyang not to resort to much speculated attempt to carry a nuclear test to cover up the satellite failure.

Liu called for endeavours to properly handle the situation.

The international community, including the US and Asian nations have condemned it as a "provocative" act threatening regional security.

"North Korea is only further isolating itself by engaging in provocative acts, and is wasting its money on weapons and propaganda displays while the North Korean people  go hungry," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in Washington.

South Korea described it as clear breach of the United Nations resolution.

"North Korea's launch... is a clear breach of the UN resolution that prohibits any launch using ballistic missile technology. It is a provocative act threatening peace and security," Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan said in Seoul.

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura also condemned the launch, regardless of the fact that it had failed.

"Even if it was a failure, it is a grave provocation to our country and other countries concerned and violates UN Security Council resolutions," he said in Tokyo.

China has not taken any overt diplomatic move to prevail upon its long-term strategic ally not go for the satellite launch despite appeals from US, Japan and South Korea who alleged that it was nothing but an attempt by North Korea to test its missile.

After North Korea announced its plan to launch the satellite, China has time and again expressed its concern and worry.

"We have kept close communications with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Russia, the United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan for a while," Liu said, adding

"Under the current circumstances, we will continue to coordinate with all sides in an effort to jointly maintain regional peace and stability".

China has taken its time to react even after North Korean government announced that its plans to put an earth observation satellite failed after the rocket blew up mid way.

Over five hours after the launch, North Korea confirmed it had been unsuccessful. "The Earth observation satellite failed to enter its preset orbit. Scientists, technicians and experts are now looking into the cause of the failure," state-run KCNA news agency said.

State television carried a similar announcement. North Korea conducted a similar rocket launch in 2009.

Though it claimed it as a success, US and South Korea had said the rocket failed to reach orbit. Chinese analysts, appearing on the state television, hinted that North Korea may resort to something bigger to offset the failure.

"Some times DPRK action is not predictable. We are not sure what will be second step. We have to make sure that response from the international community should be  measured", Professor Jia Xiudong from the China Institute of International Studies told CCTV, responding queries about whether North Korea could resort to conduct a third nuclear test.

The failure was seen as a major embarrassment for Kim Jong Un as Pyongyang has taken a large contingent of foreign media from Beijing to cover the launch.