China wants warm ties between North and South Korea

China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it supported warm ties between North and South Korea, hours after Pyongyang announced it was cutting off all communications with Seoul.

"As a close neighbour, China hopes and consistently supports the DPRK and the ROK in improving their ties and promote reconciliation and cooperation through dialogue and consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press conference.

North Korea has cut communications in the past — not replying to South Korean phone calls or faxes — and then restored those channels when tensions eased.

Pyongyang has been accused at times of deliberately creating tensions to bolster internal unity or to signal its frustration over a lack of progress in nuclear talks with Washington.

Also Tuesday, Hua reasserted what she said was China's right to implement national security legislation in Hong Kong, attacking Britain for what she described as "double standards".

(Image: Twitter / @MFA_China)