The US and China are working on a “range of options” on North Korea, the US top security adviser has said, as tensions mount over the country’s nuclear and missile programmes.
Lt Gen HR McMaster told ABC News there was consensus with China that this was a situation that “could not continue”.
The comments come after a failed missile test launch by North Korea and a massive military parade.
President Trump had earlier said China was “working with us” on the issue. Beijing, Pyongyang’s biggest ally, has come under pressure from Washington to exert more pressure on its neighbour.
Sunday’s comments appear to be the first confirmation that both countries are working together on how to deal with the North Korean issue.
Gen McMaster, who was in the Afghan capital, Kabul, said the latest launch “fits a pattern of provocative and destabilising and threatening behaviour”.
“The president has made clear that he will not accept the United States and its allies and partners in the region being under threat from this hostile regime with nuclear weapons,” he said.
“I think there’s an international consensus now, including the Chinese and the Chinese leadership, that this is a situation that just can’t continue.”
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed North Korea during a meeting last week. Mr Xi offered co-operation on “communication and co-ordination”, the BBC’s Robin Brant in Shanghai reports.
