U.S. urges China to play greater role in pressuring N. Korea for 6-way talks: State Dept.‘WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The United States Wednesday called on China to exert more influence in urging North Korea to foster the atmosphere to resume six-party talks on its denuclearization. "China has a special and leading role to play in trying to push North Korea to be a more constructive player in this process," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said. "China has a special responsibility. It has been a leader within the six-party process. We will look to China to demonstrate leadership going forward. China has had recent high-level meetings with the North Koreans." Crowley was referring to last week's meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and Chinese President Hu Jintao, the second in three months. Kim reportedly made the surprise trip to northeastern China to pave the way for a smooth power transition to his youngest son. The North leader's heir apparent, Jong-un, 27, is believed to have accompanied his father to China. Beijing officials neither confirmed nor denied Jong-un made the trip, just saying he was not on the list of official delegates. During the meeting, Kim Jong-il reiterated his denuclearization pledge and called for early resumption of the six-party talks, according to Chinese state-run media. Emerging from a meeting with Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, Chinese chief nuclear envoy Wu Dawei told reporters, "Six-party talks are an important way to maintain peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula."’