China should use its influence for North Korea: White House

With North Korea continuing with its provocative behavior, the White House has appealed China to use its influence over Pyongyang for the stability in the region.

"China is in a position to have a strong influence over the actions and the behavior of the North Koreans. It is our belief that they should use their influence in that country to stabilise the region," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.

Meanwhile, Congresswoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, after meeting with Walter Paik, Director-General of the South Korean Ruling Party's International Affairs Bureau, said that North Korea's unacceptable aggression and outright belligerence in recent weeks and months has made the situation on the Korean peninsula extremely tense.

"The deeply disturbing revelation last month that North Korea has built a secret uranium enrichment plant further shows the need to strengthen sanctions and fully enforce those on the books targeting North Korea's nuclear program and proliferation activities," she said.

The threat posed by North Korea's nuclear capabilities is only going to get worse if pressure is not increased, she argued.

"The trilateral meeting earlier this week between the US, South Korea, and Japan illustrated our strong, united front against the regime in Pyongyang.

"It is now incumbent upon Pyongyang's enabler-state, China, to join responsible nations in unequivocally condemning North Korea's recent acts of aggression," the Congresswoman said.