The ambassador also said China will never recognize the DPRK as a nuclear state and opposes nuclear weapons anywhere on the Korean Peninsula

Abe's decision to call for a snap election, however, has drawn staunch criticism from opposition parties, which argued that there is no reason to dissolve the lower house of parliament before its current term expires in December 2018

"Russia is deeply worried over more provocative launches, which lead to further escalation of tensions on the peninsula," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Tass news agency as saying

"I hope my children can finish their education here just like Changsha kids

She herself knew little of the province or its capital at that time, so she decided to have a look before taking her family there