U.S. Senator John McCain has told Chinese officials they need to take a strong stand on North Korea in response to its rocket launch on Sunday.
McCain spoke to reporters in Beijing after meeting with top officials there, saying he urged the Chinese to support the international community in imposing sanctions on North Korea.
The U.S. and its allies in Asia have said the recent rocket launch was a test of a ballistic missile, but North Korea denies the claim, saying it sent a satellite into space.
China, along with Russia, has called for "restraint" in handling the situation.
McCain also criticized the six-nation talks aimed at disarming North Korea's nuclear program, saying they had not been very productive.
McCain, along with two other U.S. Senators, is in East Asia on a tour that also includes Japan and Vietnam.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
