China said Monday it opposes "all actions" that could raise tension on the Korean Peninsula after the United States rejected a proposal by North Korea to temporarily suspend nuclear tests in exchange for a suspension of joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea.

"The Chinese side stays committed to safeguarding the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and realizing the denuclearization of the peninsula," China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily press briefing, when asked about the U.S. reaction to the North Korean offer.

"We hope that all relevant parties can achieve the aforementioned goal through dialogue and consultation," Hong said. "The Chinese side is opposed to all actions that may lead to aggravation of the situation."

South Korea and the U.S. have annually conducted joint military drills, which they say are defensive in nature and aimed at maintaining their defense capability against a belligerent North Korea.

North Korea has long called for an end to the drills, calling them a rehearsal for the invasion of the communist nation.

Pyongyang has conducted three nuclear tests so far and threatened to carry out a fourth test in an angry response to a U.N. move to censure North Korea's leaders at the International Criminal Court over its dismal human rights record. (Yonhap)