China has said it hopes to send a "clear" message with the new round of UN sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea over its controversial nuclear program. The UN Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday on imposing new penalties on the country, following its fifth and largest nuclear test in September.

"China supports a further response from the U.N. Security Council over the DPRK's fifth nuclear test. We advocate a reaction that is clearly targeted and aimed at the DPRK's nuclear activities but it should not harm the country's normal humanitarian, civilian or development needs," said Geng Shuang, spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry.