The United States has urged China to apply more pressure on North Korea, adding that enhancing Washington's defense posture in response to the North's nuclear problem is inevitable. 

Several diplomatic sources said Monday that U.S. State Secretary Rex Tillerson conveyed the sentiment to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila earlier this month. Tillerson is said to have noted that strengthening the U.S. defense posture is inevitable amid the growing threats from Pyongyang.  

Washington's stronger defense posture is interpreted as deploying more strategic weapons on the Korean Peninsula as a means to rein in Pyongyang's provocations.

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