Beijing said on Thursday it is committed to friendly ties with Pyongyang, even after the official news agency of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea published a direct criticism of China.

"China's stance on the Korean Peninsula issue, and developing good-neighborly and friendly relations between China and the DPRK has been consistent and clear," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a regular press briefing.

"For many years, China has consistently taken an objective and fair stance and has handled issues according to their truth or falsehood," he said.