The Xinhua news agency said the agreement followed talks between diplomat Yang Jiechi and General Fang Fenghui and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary Jim "Mad Dog" Mattis.
"China understands that the United States regards North Korea as our top security threat", Tillerson said.
American concern is growing over North Korea's acceleration toward having a nuclear missile that can strike the US mainland. Trump indicated to Xi Jinping at their Mar-El-Lago summit in early April that he wanted progress on North Korea within one hundred days so there could be some aggressive moves by the U.S. administration, including sanctions on Chinese firms, by mid-July.
North Korea conducts about 90 percent of its trade through China.
"We discussed ways to decrease tension and reduce risk in the South China Sea", he said, adding, "As we maintain open dialogue on this topic, the United States will continue to fly, sail and operate wherever worldwide law allows". Warmbier, the American college student who was released by North Korea in a coma last week - could leave China without a say in any negotiated outcome.
The North Koreans compared this Trump "wag the dog" scenario to former President Bill Clinton using military strikes on Iraq to distract from the Monica Lewinsky scandal, claiming that Trump would use the same tactic to avoid a "tough situation" in the US that could lead to his impeachment.
The talks also covered the South China Sea, where Beijing's island-building and construction of possible military facilities have rattled neighbors and caused tension with Washington.
South Korea's Defense Ministry said the bombers engaged in routine exercises with its fighter jets aimed at deterring the North.
Mr. Trump had made clear earlier that his preference was to work with China on North Korea, but that he was willing to go after them alone.
US tries to use better China ties to press North Korea
There also are separate tracks for law enforcement and cyber issues, as well as another for cultural exchange. Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (1st R) co-chairs a diplomatic and security dialogue with U.S.
Trump's tweet about China took some advisers by surprise.
"I think we have other cards to play in the diplomatic and the economic realm", he said. -China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue.
"Countries around the world and in the U.N. Security Council are joining in this effort, and we hope China will do their part as well", he said. During the period that Warmbier was held in detention, the North Korean authorities kept the USA authorities and his family in the dark about his whereabouts and condition.
The talks followed what a US official said on Tuesday were new movements detected by USA spy satellites at North Korea's nuclear test site.
China, North Korea's main trading partner, has been accused of not fully enforcing existing United Nations sanctions on its neighbor, and has resisted some tougher measures.
On Saturday, Chinese state media reported that the talks reached consensus.
Even direct talks with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un - which seem less likely after the death of Otto F.
The U.S. side is expected to press China to cooperate on a further toughening of global sanctions on North Korea.
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