US, China Need to Find Ways to Cooperate on N Korea Issue, South China Sea

The United States and China should find options for cooperation on the issue of North Korea's nuclear program and the situation in the South China Sea, US State Secretary John Kerry said Wednesday prior to a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) —  US State Secretary John Kerry said Wednesday that North Korea's nuclear program was one of the most important issues.

"We have several important issues we need to find a way to move forward on. One is the issue of the nuclear program of the DPRK, North Korea – a major challenge to global security," Kerry said.

On January 6, Pyongyang claimed it had carried out its first hydrogen bomb test, triggering condemnation from the international community which denounced the test as provocative and undermining stability in the region.

The US state secretary added that "concerns and activities in the South China Sea" was the second important issue for bilateral relations.

China is among nations in the region, alongside Vietnam and the Philippines, that claim the Spratly Islands near busy shipping lanes that the United States insists are international waters. Beijing has been constructing artificial islands in the area, claiming sovereignty over the land and the 12-nautical-mile zone surrounding them.