U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says North Korea’s stated willingness to engage in talks can be linked to the North’s perception that a unified front against Pyongyang exists.

In an interview on the Charlie Rose Show on PBS, Clinton said Tuesday that South Korea, China, Russia and Japan are working with the U.S. to enforce the toughest sanctions ever imposed against the North.

She added that Washington believes that talks with the North could be the door that leads to negotiations that can possibly lead to improving conditions regionally and globally.

Clinton noted that China has been extremely helpful with respect to North Korea, adding that Beijing has been playing a much more involved role in trying to corral the North.