U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone Friday and agreed on the importance of a "strong and united international response" to North Korea's provocations, the White House said.
It was the first that the two leaders have spoken since the North's Jan. 6 nuclear test. The conversation also came amid mounting calls for China to use more of its leverage with Pyongyang to rein in its recalcitrant neighbor.
"Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Both leaders also conveyed that they will not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapon state," the White House said in a readout.
The two leaders also agreed that the North's planned rocket launch would "contravene multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and represent another provocative and destabilizing action."
"The leaders emphasized the importance of a strong and united international response to North Korea's provocations, including through an impactful U.N. Security Council Resolution," the White House said.
China's Xinhua news agency said that Obama expressed hope that the international community will strengthen coordination and propel the U.N. Security Council to adopt measures to cope effectively with North Korea's nuclear test and planned rocket launch.
Obama also told Xi that the U.S. is willing to cooperate with the Chinese side on the issue, Xinhua said.
Calling the current situation complicated and sensitive, Xi said China is committed to the goal of denuclearization on the peninsula and insists on a solution through dialogue and consultation.
Xi also said China is committed to maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, which meets the fundamental interests of all parties concerned, according to Xinhua.
Xi said the Chinese side supports safeguarding the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions and the international nonproliferation system, and is willing to maintain communication and coordination with each and every party involved, including the U.S., Xinhua said.
Earlier, Xi also called South Korean President Park Geun-hye.
During the call with Park, Xi also repeated China's existing positions that the Korean Peninsula should be free of nuclear weapons and all relevant parties should deal with the situation in a "cool-headed" manner and stick to the principle of dialogue and negotiations to resolve problems.
South Korea, the United States and others have been looking to China to use more of its leverage with North Korea to hold the provocative regime accountable for its recent nuclear test and to discourage further provocations.
Chinese cooperation is key to putting together strong sanctions on Pyongyang as China is one of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and the main provider of food and fuel for the North.
Beijing has condemned the North's nuclear test, but has been lukewarm about calls for stern responses. Analysts have long said Beijing fears that pushing Pyongyang too hard could lead to its collapse, instability on its border with China and the ultimate emergence of a pro-U.S. nation. (Yonhap)
