The U.S. is hinting that it could attempt to further persuade China to agree to bring the North Korean nuclear issue to the U.N. Security Council.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said during a trip to Seoul on Wednesday that the international community must send a strong message that the North’s uranium enrichment program is inconsistent with its international obligations, Security Council resolutions and its own commitments.

The envoy also added that he thinks the strong position that the international community has taken and the clear message coming out of last week’s summit between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao should help drive that message home.

Steinberg also pointed out South Korea and the U.S. have agreed on the necessity of concrete steps and sincere moves by North Korea in regards to Pyongyang’s nuclear program. He said that if North Korea is prepared to move in that direction, the U.S. and South Korea are prepared to do so as well.

The U.S. envoy said that China understands the importance of moving ahead with South-North dialogue, adding that rebuilding South Korean trust is a critical first step toward being able to move forward to broad-based dialogue.

He also reaffirmed the strength of the alliance between South Korea and the U.S., saying that the views of the two nations are very much in sync and that they are working together enormously.