China has sought to enlist Russia’s help to cool tensions over North Korea amid fears among Beijing’s leaders that hostilities between the United States and Pyongyang are imminent.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the appeal in a phone conversation with Sergey Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, after telling reporters that conflict could break out “at any moment”.

A statement on China's Foreign Ministry website said Mr Wang told the Russian diplomat: "China is ready to coordinate closely with Russia to help cool down as soon as possible the situation on the peninsula and encourage the parties concerned to resume dialogue.”

The comments were in relation to the six-party talks, exchanges which centred on concerns over North Korea’s weapons program which were launched in 2003 but stalled in 2009 when North Korea walked out.

South Korea, Japan Russia, China and the US were the other countries involved.