US, China agree 'strong' response to North Korea nuclear tests

US President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping today agreed to respond to North Korean "provocations" with an "impactful" UN Security Council resolution, the White House said.

"The leaders emphasised the importance of a strong and united international response to North Korea's provocations, including through an impactful UN Security Council Resolution," the White House added.

Pyongyang held a nuclear test on January 6 and this week announced the upcoming launch of a satellite-bearing rocket, which the West sees as a cover for a ballistic missile test in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

The Obama administration has pressed China to use its influence with its neighbor, which is heavily dependent on Beijing aid.

Washington wants to see a UN resolution that would spell punitive sanctions on the North.

China has protected Pyongyang from harsher sanctions in the past.

Despite annoyance with the nuclear ambitions of its maverick neighbor Beijing's priority is to prevent any action that could lead to the collapse of the North Korean regime and chaos on China's border.

Today's statement appears to point to a broad consensus between Obama and Xi on the need to act, but it is unclear if that can be translated into agreement on specific actions.