China warns of collision between North Korea and US

North Korea and the United States have been described by the Chinese Foreign Minister as "two accelerating trains with neither side willing to give way".

Wang Yi told reporters on Wednesday he had proposed a suspension of Pyongyang's nuclear missile tests, as well as putting a halt to military drills set up by the US and South Korea.

Kim Jong-un's regime launched its latest nuclear test on Monday, firing four ballistic missiles into the sea close to Japanese territory, further aggravating tensions in the region.

"(China's) priority now is to flash the red light and to apply brakes on both trains," Wang said during the press conference in Beijing.

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, US President Donald Trump and the UN Security Council all unanimously condemned the actions of Pyongyang, after three of the missiles came into the country's exclusive economic area.

Wang also spoke of the need for the US and China to continue to advance their relationship in order for both to flourish.

"There is a compelling reason for China and the US to respect each other," Wang said. "Our interests are intertwined."

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to fly to China later this week in order to speak with the government there about how best to approach the development of North Korea's nuclear programme.

China had previously criticised the US for having collaborated with South Korea in the rolling out of the THAAD nuclear defence programme.