Security Council, about the need to reaffirm the commitment to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

NPR: Bush Urges Decisive Response to North Korea Test

Kerry and the Chinese foreign policy chief, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, said the two nations would work together to create a nuclear-free Korean peninsula, effectively forcing North Korea to give up its arsenal.

NPR: Goal Of Nuclear-Free NKorea Tests US, China Ties

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other U.S. officials have said Washington remains committed to eliminating nuclear weapons from the Korean peninsula.

WSJ: U.S. to Allow North Korea Test Launch

Mr Kerry said that in his talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye she had made clear her "bright vision" of a peaceful Korean peninsula free of nuclear weapons.

BBC: US warns N Korea missile launch would be 'huge mistake'

"Today's announcement reflects the common commitment of the participants in the Six-Party Talks to realize a Korean Peninsula that is free of nuclear weapons, " the president said.

CNN: N. Korea to disable nuclear complex

South Korea's admission to a nuclear past was bound to complicate the diplomacy on the peninsula.

ECONOMIST: Diplomacy's nuclear perils

"Our goal is complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and we will not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapons state, " he said.

CNN: Gates: Nuclear-armed N. Korea not acceptable

South Korea's envoy to the UN, Kim Sook, described the North's nuclear tests as "grave threat to the peace" on the Korean peninsula and the wider region.

BBC: Asia

The Obama administration must seize this moment as an opportunity not only to articulate a plan for North Korean nuclear disarmament but to take concrete steps towards a secure and stable Korean Peninsula.

CNN: Commentary: Bill Clinton shows that diplomacy works

Urging an early resumption of long-stalled six-party talks committed to reining in North Korea's nuclear program, Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue told Xinhua that "the peninsula's denuclearization and the normalization of relations" was in all parties' interest.

CNN: Chinese president arrives for U.S. state visit

The Korean nuclear issue has brought Beijing and Washington together to seek the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.

CNN: Stakes are high for U.S., China during Clinton visit