China, North Korea's key diplomatic protector, said Wednesday that it "firmly opposes" Pyongyang's nuclear test, adding it was carried out "irrespective of the international community's opposition," AFP reports.
"We strongly urge the DPRK side to remain committed to its denuclearisation commitment, and stop taking any actions that would make the situation worse," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing, using the North's official name.
She added that China would summon the North's ambassador and launch "solemn representations" over the nuclear test, Pyongyang's fourth in total and its first since a 2013 experiment that was condemned by Beijing.