The ROK and the United States conducted joint military drills in March, June, August and September in the ROK and in waters off the ROK coast.

Furthermore, the two countries started a high-profile four-day drill involving the U.S. aircraft carrier George Washington Sunday, after the deadly exchange of fire between the DPRK and the ROK on Nov. 23.

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The ROK and the United States hope the drills deter the DPRK, said Shi Yinhong, a professor with the American Studies Center at Renmin University of China.

However, Shi said, this could further anger the DPRK and press the DPRK to take more aggressive countermeasures.

Shi said the most important thing at present is to push for an exchange of opinions through talks and consultations between the relevant parties to avoid misunderstandings that may cause serious consequences.

After the recent shelling incident, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said during his visit to Russia that China opposes any military provocation on the Korean Peninsula.

Wen called for the utmost restraint from all relevant parties and joint efforts by the international community to ease tensions. China is also making unremitting efforts to restart the Six-Party Talks.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Chi Jae Ryong, Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to China, and held telephone conversations with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, ROK Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara to exchange opinions on the Korean Peninsula situation.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo met with ROK President Lee Myung-bak Sunday in Seoul.

After a long, candid and in-depth talk, the two sides said the situation on the peninsula is worrisome, agreeing that the parties concerned should make joint efforts to engage in serious contact and dialogue to ease tensions and safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in northeast Asia.

Ni Feng, deputy director of the CASS Institute of American Studies, called on the Chinese government to make further efforts to promote talks, despite existing difficulties.

Dialogue is better than confrontation, Ni said, adding that if the situation deteriorates, the biggest losers will be the DPRK and the ROK.