Robert Joseph, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, said his sense was that North Korea will return to the six-party talks, but he said China could do more to prod it to dismantle its nuclear program.

"What more can the Chinese do? Well, I think the Chinese can exert more influence on the North. They do provide a great deal of sustenance to the North," he told reporters here.

"And it seems to me if you look at alternative futures, the best future for China is a future where there are no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula," he said.

Joseph noted that China provides North Korea with food, energy and economic assistance.

Asked how the United States could ask Beijing to cut off food to Pyongyang when the United States also provides food aid, Joseph said he did not say that China should cut off food to North Korea.

"I think China needs to make the calculation how best to influence the North and act on that. China probably has a better sense of what leverage they have, what tools they have," he said. "I just pointed out that they do provide a great deal of sustenance to the regime."

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