Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday said it is imperative for North Korea and the United States to "put the brakes" on mutually upsetting words and actions, in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Wang also said he will "not allow anyone to stir up trouble on China and Russia's doorsteps," according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

They agreed that a peaceful settlement of the North Korean issue must be sought through diplomatic means, according to the ministry.

Lavrov was quoted as saying that it is "completely unacceptable to solve (the North Korean) nuclear issue by military means."

Their conversation took place as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea have been exchanging increasingly aggressive rhetoric in recent days.

North Korea last week said it is preparing to fire four intermediate-range ballistic missiles over Japan to land in waters in the vicinity of the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.

Since the threat to target the island, home to about 7,000 U.S. troops and 160,000 people, was announced, Trump has issued a slew of warnings to North Korea that U.S. armed forces will take action as needed.