Analysts suggested that China take a neutral stance on a recent dispute between South Korea and North Korea, as the Chinese foreign ministry on Saturday urged the two countries to ease the tension through dialogue.

"China expects related parties to remain calm and restrained, not to take provocative or radical actions and jointly safeguard the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement.

Hong's comments came as the Western Front Command of the Korean People's Army on Friday warned that it might fire on a South Korea border area where Seoul plans to scatter anti-North Korea leaflets on Monday, while the South Korean defense chief said the country would wipe out the attackers.

Jung Seung-jo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited the Dora observation post on the western front and urged troops to be vigilant for any actions taken by the North, reported the Yonhap News Agency.

He also visited a nearby multiple rocket launcher unit. Meanwhile, anti-Pyongyang civic group leaders made clear they will not be deterred from launching the balloons.

Despite stringent threats from both sides, Zhang Liangui, a Korean studies expert at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, told the Global Times that a war is not likely to break out on the Korean Peninsula at this moment.

"The situation could spin out of control if either side acts radically. However, chances of that happening are slim with South Korea facing an upcoming election and considering North Korea's ailing economy," said Zhang.

Balloons containing propaganda leaflets have been constantly used through the decades of standoff between the two countries.

In February 2011, South Korea sent leaflets, food and medicine over the border praising the revolutions in Egypt and Libya. North Korea also dropped leaflets several times this year, according to Lianhe Zaobao newspaper.

"I believe China should remain neutral on this matter," Zhang said, adding that supporting either side would hurt China's interests.

His opinion was echoed by Lü Chao, director of the North and South Korea Research Center at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, who said that escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula will bring unrest to all of Asia, which is something China has been trying to avoid.

Lü said it is not surprising to see the tensions escalating as relations between the two countries deteriorated after Lee Myung-bak took office.

"Some of his foreign policies, especially the recent US-South Korea missile agreement which extends the firing range of their weapons, have rattled the nerves of the North," Lü added.

Also on Saturday, North Korea defied the maritime border drawn by the South and condemned the South Korean president's visit to Yeonpyeong Island near the border, the Korea Times reported.

"North Korea's attitude toward the South has grown increasingly assertive in the past two years after it announced possession of nuclear weapons in 2009," Zhang noted, "It could be an alarming sign to many countries, including China."

Xinhua contributed to this story