State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said on Friday evening that Clinton "had a lengthy conversation" by telephone on Friday with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi about North Korea. Crowley said Clinton "encouraged Beijing to make clear that North Korea's behavior is unacceptable."

In Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry confirmed the conversation and said Yang met separately Friday with North Korea's ambassador. The Chinese statement said Yang expressed concern about the situation and that the two Koreas should show restraint and resolve their problems through dialogue.

South Korea's government has been struggling to recover from the Tuesday attacks by the North that killed four people.