US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned North Korea of "problems" if it fails to return to nuclear talks, while cautioning the EU against lifting its arms embargo against China.
The US top diplomat also urged Beijing to ease tensions across the Taiwan Strait and pressed for improvements in human rights and religious freedoms during two days of talks with the communist country's top leaders.
Washington was considering "other options" in dealing with the rogue Stalinist regime in North Korea but Rice made it clear that a military attack was not one of them.
"Whether the talks can restart depends on North Korea. Everyone is waiting and is ready to have a constructive discussion," Rice said of six-party talks to halt the North's nuclear ambitions that have been stalled since last June.
