A senior U.S. diplomat has urged China to take a more substantial role in ending a stalemate in stalled multi-party nuclear talks with North Korea.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said Monday Chinese officials need to be more than mediators in the talks.
China - North Korea's only major ally - has been hosting the talks, which have been stalled since last November.
North Korea says it will not return to the negotiating table until the United States lifts financial sanctions imposed over allegations Pyongyang counterfeited U.S. currency.
Washington has refused to lift the sanctions, which it says are a law enforcement matter and not related to the nuclear talks.
The six-party talks are aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for diplomatic, energy and security guarantees.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
