US Secretary of State John Kerry will embark on a three-day trip to East Asia on Sunday with a significant stop in China on Wednesday to talk to Chinese leaders about reining in North Korea after the latter's nuclear test as well as the South China Sea dispute.

Tough unilateral action

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Kerry is expected to press China to take a tough unilateral action against North Korea's nuclear test this month as well as push for a united front in dealing with the North's nuclear weapons program through additional UN sanctions.

"It is very important to present a united front ... but that united front has to be a firm one, not a flaccid one," a senior official of the US State Department said.

Security situation

China, North Korea's main ally and neighbor, has openly declared that it will not be pressured by the international community to mete out punishment on North Korea saying to do so will result in the destabilization of security situation in the region.

Kerry is expected to convince Beijing to do more to curb North Korea's development of a nuclear arsenal by cutting off Pyongyang's financial sources and slowing down its ability to gain access to nuclear weapons and missiles.

The official said North Korea has turned to illicit means to purchase nuclear equipment and missiles due to the few avenues it has to do business with the international community except China.

"Despite the determination and efforts of the Chinese government, clearly there is more that they can do," the official said.

Military bases

While in Beijing, Kerry will also hold 'in depth' discussions with Chinese leaders about the ongoing dispute with other claimant-countries on the South China Sea issue.

The dispute has created increasing tension among China, the ASEAN countries and the United States due to Beijing's construction of artificial islands and facilities on these islands - which the US fears may be transformed into military bases.

In Laos, Kerry is expected to strengthen ASEAN unity and support the bloc's resolve to stand up to China regarding the issue of the South China Sea.

Summit

The meeting will be a prelude to a summit President Barack Obama called with the bloc's leaders on February 15-16 in California to thresh out concerns of South China Sea  claimant-countries, who are part of ASEAN.

Kerry kicks off his East Asia tour with a three-day stay in Laos, which is the 2016 head of ASEAN, and will then head to Cambodia on Monday and then next to Beijing for talks on Wednesday.

TagsUS Secretary of State John Kerry, East Asia Trip, South China Sea Dispute, US President Barack OBama, North Korea