China's official Xinhua News Agency urged "all relevant parties" to exercise "restraint" on Sunday as North Korea launched a long-range rocket in defiance of U.N. resolutions amid international condemnations over its latest nuclear test.

There was no immediate reaction from China's foreign ministry about the North's rocket launch, but commentary by the Chinese news agency said, "The launch marks a negative development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula."

"Sanctions are definitely not the aim," Xinhua said in the commentary. "It is greatly hoped that all related parties would show restraint and good faith, and display political wisdom to help the situation on the Korean Peninsula develop in a good direction."

Last month, North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test.

China, North Korea's diplomatic backer and economic lifeline, has expressed displeasure over the North's nuclear and missile programs, but resisted calls for tougher new sanctions against North Korea following the latest nuclear test.(Yonhap)