In the midst of a flare-up of tensions in the Korean peninsula, China on Friday adopted a 'hands off' approach to the crisis, suggesting that it would not directly intervene to restrain Pyongyang.

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"Peace and stability of Korean peninsula as well as northeast Asia serves common interest and requires common effort of all parties," the Chinese foreign ministry said. "We call on all relevant parties to make joint efforts to turn around the tense situation," it said taking some analysts by surprise as China is the only major power with a strong influence over North Korea.

Beijing's guarded response to the fresh crisis, triggered by US-South Korea joint military exercises during which nuclear-capable B-2 bombers flew over the peninsula, comes after Pyongyang put its rockets on standby and even threatened to strike US mainland.

Beijing had recently slammed the US for strengthening anti-missile defences against North Korea and Washington's reaffirmation of its commitment to strengthen the alliance with South Korea.

The US defence secretary Chuck Hagel has denied the flying of bombers over the peninsula was aimed at provoking the North and blamed Pyongyang for ratcheting up the tensions. The US-South Korea joint military exercises is the first after the North conducted its third nuclear test on February 12.

North Korea has unilaterally nullified the 1953 armistice that suspended the Korean War and even snapped the hotline with the South.