Hong Kong (CNN) -- The United States' plans to beef up its missile defenses against North Korea are likely to inflame tensions that are running high over Pyongyang's nuclear program, China said Monday. "Bolstering missile defenses will only intensify antagonism, and it doesn't help to solve the issue," Hong Lei, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular news briefing in Beijing. The United States will deploy additional ground-based missile interceptors on the West Coast as part of efforts to enhance the nation's ability to defend itself from attack by North Korea, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Friday.
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China says U.S. anti-missile plans don't "help to solve the issue"
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North Korea has recently threatened to attack South Korea and the United States
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The Pentagon plans to add missile interceptors on the West Coast
North Korea on Saturday responded to the @placeholder announcement by criticizing what it described as the Americans' "hostile policy" and saying it won't negotiate with them over its nuclear program.