China, South Korea urge calm as North Korea prepares big celebration

Seoul

SOUTH Korea said on Thursday it believed it would be consulted by the United States before any possible pre-emptive US strike against Pyongyang and China urged the North to halt its nuclear programme in exchange for greater protection from Beijing.

With a US aircraft carrier group steaming to the area, tensions on the Korean peninsula grew this week amid concern that the reclusive North could soon conduct its sixth nuclear test or more missile launches in defiance of United Nations sanctions.