Officials: Kerry to pressure Beijing to calm down North Korea

Beijing (CNN) -- With tensions high on the Korean Peninsula, the top U.S. diplomat is meeting with Chinese leaders Saturday to urge them to pressure Pyongyang to tone down its provocations.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry raised the issue of North Korea and other global concerns as he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

"Mr. president this is obviously a critical time with some very challenging issues -- issues on the Korean peninsula, the challenge of Iran and nuclear weapons, Syria and the Middle East, and economies around the world that are in need of a boost," Kerry said in opening remarks.

Meeting earlier with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Kerry said there were "enormously challenging issues" in front of the two nations.

"I look forward to having that conversation with you today ... (to) define for both of us what the model relationship should be and how two great powers, China and the United States, can work effectively to solve problems," he said.

Wang said he hoped the two nations could work together to handle sensitive issues with "mutual respect."

The U.S. secretary of state landed in Beijing after leaving Seoul, South Korea, where he pledged unbending U.S. military support against any attack from the North.

Washington wants Beijing to "stop the money trail into North Korea" and give Pyongyang a strong message that China wants the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons, two U.S. administration officials said.

U.S. officials said China has recently expressed frustrations over Pyongyang's actions.

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