China's defense ministry says the US is in no position to blame China for tensions on the Korean peninsula, and reminded Washington that the DPRK has repeatedly cited continued US military aggression to justify its nuclear program.

"The DPRK nuclear issue is after all a US-DPRK issue. There is no need for Defense Secretary Ash Carter to blame others. China will not accept this blame," said Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesman Yang Yujun.

Yang Yujun said China "means what it says", when it says it will consider counter measures against US plans to deploy a THAAD missile system in South Korea.

The spokesman added Beijing will pay close attention to relevant developments, and consider taking necessary actions to protect national strategic security and maintain the current regional military balance.