China has warned that it will not allow the Korean Peninsula to descend into war or chaos.

The remark follows the announcement by North Korea that it planned to launch an Earth Observation Satellite.

The plan has triggered concern across the region.

Speaking at a news briefing on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang expressed China's extreme concern and called on Pyongyang to exercise restraint.

"We are extremely concerned about this. China believes that North Korea ought to have the right to the peaceful use of space but at present this right has been restricted by Security Council resolutions. In the present situation, we hope North Korea exercises restraint on the issue of launching satellites, acts cautiously and does not take any escalatory steps that may further raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula."

The North notified U.N. agencies on Tuesday of its plan to launch what it called an "earth observation satellite" sometime between February 8 and 25.

Pyongyang has always said that its space program is peaceful.

But the plan triggered worries that the launch could be used as a cover for a long-range missile test by the country, just weeks after its fourth nuclear test on January 6.

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, via his spokesman, called on North Korea to refrain from using "ballistic missile technology.

Russia has also issued a statement, urging Pyongyang to seriously consider the consequences.

Japan has placed its military on alert, vowing to shoot down the rocket if it threatens the country, while South Korea warned the North will pay a "severe price" if it proceeds with a satellite launch that Seoul considers a missile test.

The White House has called for joint efforts to prevent the launch.

On Tuesday, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russell said the launch, by using ballistic missile technology, would be a serious violation of its international duties.

He added that the North's announcement of the plan was "an unmistakable slap" in the face to China.

Lashing out at that accusation, Lu Kang pointed back at the United States.

"It is only in the years when the six-party talks have stalled and certain countries' create an outcry for constant pressure and sanctions that the DPRK has done nuclear tests once and again. In this sense, the DPRK did slap some countries in the face. As for whose face the DPRK slaps, the country itself knows it well in its heart."

He added that while unable to restrain countries seen as exacerbating tensions, China would not allow the peninsula to descend into war.

"We don't hope to see any kind of situation appearing that increases tensions or increases conflict, but if the countries in question insist on doing so then we really can't hold them back. At this point I must emphasize, no matter what, there is one thing that China must declare, as a close neighbor of the peninsula we absolutely will not allow the peninsula to fall into chaos or war."

Lu Kang also confirmed Chinese chief nuclear envoy Wu Dawei's ongoing visit to Pyongyang, but declined to give any details.