Jul.22 (China Military Newws cited from AFP) --  CHINA'S Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi called for restraint from all parties on Sunday, as the US and South Korea launched a major naval exercise despite threats of nuclear retaliation by North Korea.

'All involved parties should commit to providing peace and security on the Korean peninsula,' Mr Yang told a joint press conference in Vienna, after meeting with his Austrian counterpart Michael Spindelegger.

Washington and Seoul said the war games, which began on Sunday in the Sea of Japan, were meant as a message to Pyongyang to cease its aggressive behaviour, following allegations it torpedoed a South Korean warship in March.

But North Korea threatened to respond with nuclear weapons. Mr Yang told journalists that Pyongyang should return to so-called six-party talks, aimed at dismantling its nuclear programme but stalled since December 2008, the Austrian Press Agency reported.

He also insisted that world powers should intensify diplomatic talks on Iran's nuclear programme, APA said. The UN Security Council imposed a new set of sanctions on Teheran in early June, and EU ministers were due to approve further sanctions on Monday in a bid to lure Iran back to the negotiating table over its disputed nuclear programme.

Mr Yang and Mr Spindelegger met briefly on Sunday afternoon to discuss bilateral relations and their cooperation at the UN Security Council, where Austria currently holds a non-permanent seat. The Chinese foreign minister was due to attend the opening of the Salzburg Festival Sunday evening before meeting with Austrian President Heinz Fischer on Monday.