Germany: Chinese pressure makes us more upbeat about North Korea

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Wednesday that everyone was concerned about an escalation of military violence as part of annual military exercises between South Korea and the U.S. but Chinese pressure on North Korea made him more upbeat.

"Since yesterday we are a bit more optimistic; I think that above all Chinese pressure contributed to the statements from North Korea about definitely putting aside these ideas of firing a missile from Guam," Gabriel said.

"He said he would think about it further but it seems that the pressure put on by China worked," he told reporters, referring to North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.