U.S. Senator John McCain has urged China to put more pressure on North Korea as Pyongyang is set to launch a long-range rocket.

In an interview with AFP Thursday, the Arizona Republican said that although North Korea is just trying to get attention with the rocket launch, the attempt could result in Pyongyang getting itself into a very serious and dangerous situation.

McCain, who lost his bid for the presidency to Barack Obama last November, said the North’s planned rocket launch increases the urgency of the Chinese becoming far more engaged in this issue.

McCain’s statement comes as he is set to begin on Sunday a round of trips that will bring him to Hong Kong, Hanoi, Beijing and Tokyo.