Following Wednesday's test-firing of missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) the US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill arrived early Friday morning in Beijing for talks.

"I don't have much to say right now," Hill told reporters at the airport.

Hill, who is also chief US negotiator to the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue, is scheduled to meet with China's Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei to discuss how to promote the six party talks in light of the current situation, according to information from Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday that a DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman had confirmed that missiles had been tested.

During a phone conversation between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart President George W. Bush on Thursday evening Hu told Bush that China was committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and opposed to any actions which may intensify the issue.

"With such a complicated situation it's necessary for all the involved parties to keep calm and show restraint," Hu said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2006)