Beijing  - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday urged North Korea and other nations involved in talks on its nuclear weapons programme to exercise restraint and "refrain from taking actions that may escalate tensions."

"We hope that parties involved in the six-party talks will further build consensus," Wen said ahead of planned talks next week with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Yong Il.

"We want to resolve the key issues plaguing the six-party talks so that we can move forward and realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he told reporters at the close of the annual National People's Congress, China's nominal parliament.

Wen said his talks with Kim would focus on bilateral ties and "issues of common concern concerning regional and international affairs."

Kim's March 17-21 visit would be his first to China since taking office in April 2007.

It follows North Korea's announcement that it plans to launch a communications satellite in early April amid international concern that the plan is really a cover for a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

South Korea, the United States and Japan have all raised concerns about the North Korean plans.

Seoul said the North has been preparing for weeks to launch a Taepodong-2 missile, potentially capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and reaching the United States.

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Robert Wood said a launch would be a "provocative act" and violate UN Security Council resolutions.

North Korea's army on Monday warned of retaliation if attempts were made to shoot down what it said in February was an "experimental communications satellite."

North Korea, the United States, China, South Korea, Russia and Japan have taken part in several rounds of protracted talks aimed at negotiating an end to Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme in return for energy and other concessions from the other nations. (dpa)