Kerry: China, key to President Park's campaign to reach out to Pyongyang

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday North Korea would collapse without China's assistance as he stressed the importance of getting Beijing behind efforts to denuclearize Pyongyang.

"I think it's fair to say that without China, North Korea would collapse," he said at a congressional hearing.

The senator, who has long followed North Korea, especially when he was a senator, pointed out that China provides almost three-quarters of North Korea's fuel.

"China is a significant banking conduit for the North," he told the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "China provides significant food aid to the North. Therefore I think it's important for us to work with China. And I think China has indicated its willingness to work with us."