Malaysia today warned that North Korea's missile launches could destabilise the region and called for restraint and negotiations.

"Malaysia believes the test-firing of the missiles could have adverse repercussions on peace and stability in the region," said Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

"Malaysia will urge all parties to exercise restraint and resume negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues amicably," he said in a statement released through the state Bernama news agency.

North Korea test-fired seven missiles on Wednesday that splashed down in the Sea of Japan (East Sea), including for the first time a Taepodong-2 which is believed to be capable of reaching Alaska or Hawaii in the United States.

The top US negotiator on North Korea, Christopher Hill, held talks with Chinese officials Friday as Washington tried to persuade China and Russia to take a harder line on Pyongyang over its missile tests.

Japan is leading efforts to orchestrate a United Nations Security Council resolution that could end up imposing multilateral sanctions against North Korea, but veto-wielding China and Russia have resisted such a move.