China has urged both North and South Korea to exercise utmost restraint following an artillery exchange between the two sides earlier week which killed four South Koreans. In a strongest statement yet on the recent military confrontation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei acalled on both Koreas to hold a dialogue as soon as possible to void recurrence of Tuesday's events. In the most recent incident, North Korea hit a South Korean island with scores of artillery shells, setting homes ablaze. Four South Koreans were killed: two marines and two civilians. Seoul's military fired back, in one of the worst outbreaks of violence on the divided peninsula in decades.Many other countries, led by the United States, have condemned Pyongyang for violence they say it began. Chinese officials expressed concern, but refrained from pointing fingers.Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu met North Korean leaders in Pyongyang on Wednesday. However, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has postponed a trip to Seoul planned for this week, because of scheduling reasons.