Christopher Hill, the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs, also said that the United States and China were split over North Korea's alleged role as a nuclear proliferator and the prospect of its illicit atomic weapons falling into terrorist hands.

Hill was speaking at a hearing on "Dealing with North Korea's nuclear programs" by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Replying to remarks by panel chairman Senator Dick Lugar, Hill said: "I agree with you that China has been reluctant to use the full range of leverage that we believe China has.

"China has had North Korea as a close friend and ally for some 50 years now, and China has very close political connections, very close personal connections with the leadership, very close economic connections.

"And our request to China is to do what it has to do in order to bring them to the table," said Hill, the US leader to negotiations among the two Koreas, US, Japan, Russia and China designed to woo North Korea to give up its nuclear arms in return for aid and security guarantees.

North Korea has refused to participate in the nuclear talks after attending three rounds hosted by China, citing US "hostility." It has also rejected a US-led aid-for-disarmament plan and has instead been boasting about its nuclear prowess.

Hill said the United States was not going to dictate terms with China on how to deal with North Korea.

China and South Korea have reportedly opposed US moves to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear arms, rejecting calls for sanctions or ceasing crucial economic aid, but Hill said they were united in wanting to disarm Pyongyang of its atomic weapons.

"We're not going to tell them (China) whether they need to use economic leverage on their neighbor. But we're going to expect that, as the host to the process, that they figure out a way to get everyone to the table," he said.

"While there are differences on tactics, where the Chinese are reluctant to use pressure and, Mr Chairman, as you said, the South Koreans are also reluctant to use that type of direct pressure, I want to emphasize there's absolutely no daylight between us on the issue of disarming North Korea," he added.

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