US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, apparently dissatisfied with China's efforts so far to neutralize North Korea's nuclear programme, said Beijing 'could do much more' to get Pyongyang to stop provocations in the Korean Peninsula.

Carter's statement issued on Friday comes on the heels of Pyongyang's latest ballistic missile tests, angering Washington and South Korea.

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Carter said China has the greatest influence over North Korea, and because of this, Beijing could do a lot more in reining in the isolated state.

Stop provocations

"The president has urged the Chinese leadership to get in the game and try to get them [the North Koreans] to a position where they stop provocations and ultimately do what they signed up to do, which is to have a non-nuclear Korean peninsula both North and South," Carter told the media at a press conference

China has started implementing the new UN resolution against North Korea by taking steps to stop the money flow to Pyongyang, which could be used to further fund its nuclear programme.

Beijing has reportedly instructed all Chinese banks, ports, and shipping companies not to transact business with North Korea as part of its implementation of the UN sanctions.

Rodong missiles

North Korea launched two medium-range Rodong missiles this month, one of which landed on the Sea of Japan while the other disappeared from the radar.

The launch was conducted amid the very high tension in the Korean peninsula brought about by the actions of the belligerent nation.

The latest test conducted by Pyongyang was the 6th test so far, following a nuclear test on January 6 and a satellite launch last month.

Nuclear strike threats

Pyongyang has been making nuclear strike threats against Washington and Seoul for the last two weeks in response to the ongoing large-scale military drills between the US and South Korea in the peninsula.

Pyongyang sees the military drills as a provocative act and a rehearsal by both countries of an invasion of the isolated state.

Washington has called on North Korea to stop provocative actions that would heighten the already high tensions in the peninsula.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also lambasted North Korea for its recent missile launches, saying he would consult with the US and South Korea on the possible course of action Tokyo will follow against North Korea.

TagsNorth Korea, ashton carter, nuclear strike threats, Nuclear test, Kim Jong Un, Korean peninsula, china