The U.S. should take “visible measures” to further dialogue with North Korea like working to remove sanctions rather than just “paying lip service” to engagement, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

In a press briefing, Zhao Lijian also implied that Beijing will not support new sanctions even if Pyongyang tests a nuclear weapon, a day after a top U.S. diplomat said Washington will pursue new U.N. sanctions in case of an expected underground nuclear test.

“Under current circumstances, ramping up sanctions won’t help solve the problem,” Zhao saidin response to a question about whether China would support U.S.