BEIJING - China on Monday called for calm following North Korea's weekend launch of five guided missiles toward the Sea of Japan, an event that put the South Korean and U.S. military on high alert.



"We hope that all relevant parties will make concerted efforts to safeguard the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said during a regular press briefing.



The missiles were launched from North Korea on Sunday, apparently flying about 200 kilometers before falling into the sea. The launch put the U.S. and South Korean militaries on high alert, according to South Korean officials.



The move may have been an attempt to intimidate the two countries ahead of scheduled joint military exercises scheduled to begin in early March.



Last year, North Korea repeatedly test-fired missiles and multiple-launch rocket systems between February and September.



China is North Korea's closest ally.



==Kyodo