China had no advance word of N.Korea tests -Kyodo

TOKYO, July 8 (Reuters) China received no advance warning about North Korea's missile tests this week, a Chinese state councillor was quoted today as telling a group of Japanese lawmakers in Beijing.

Ichiro Aisawa, a legislator in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, also quoted State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan as saying that Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei would convey his government's ''grave view'' of the missile launches when he visited North Korea next week, Kyodo news service reported.

Wu, who is scheduled to visit Pyongyang on Monday, has already met the North Korean ambassador to China three times to tell him of China's position, Aisawa said.

A salvo of missile tests by North Korea on Wednesday, including the launch of a long-range Taepodong-2 missile, unsettled the region and led to calls for the United Nations Security Council to impose international sanctions on Pyongyang.

REUTERS SY KP2030