Beijing has pushed back against U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s call for China to step up its role in addressing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, while Pyongyang sharply rebuked the diplomat’s “disgraceful begging trip” to China.

Blinken urged China to leverage its influence and push the DPRK to return to talks during a series of meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and other top officials this week, the diplomat told reporters on Monday.