It was unclear exactly when the conversation took place on Sunday, but Xinhua's report of the call came out after a failed missile launch by North Korea.
Speaking at the time, Chinese foreign spokesperson Geng Shuang said China was "firmly opposed" to the deployment, and would "resolutely take measures to defend our own security interests".
McMaster told Raddatz it would be in the regime's "best interest" to halt their nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Lu said Beijing wants to resume the multi-party negotiations that ended in stalemate in 2009 and suggested that USA plans to deploy a missile defense system in South Korea were damaging its relations with China.
The US Pacific Command said it tracked a missile launch on Sunday night and said the missile blew up nearly immediately.
According to the adviser, the USA had good intelligence both before and after the launch.
Pence made the remarks during a joint press conference with South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn who is serving as acting president.
As for the Trump administration's policy, the US officials emphasized that no engagement of North Korea is now taking place.
Another source told the Times that USA officials "are much closer to taking military action than they were a year ago". Recent satellite imagery suggests the country could conduct another underground nuclear test at any time.
Pence will be tasked with explaining the policy in meetings with leaders in South Korea and Japan at the start of his trip, which will also include stops in Indonesia and Australia.
Deputy national adviser K.T. McFarland briefed the president on the failed missile launch.
A large-scale military parade is expected.
He is accompanied by his wife Karen and two adult daughters.
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On Saturday, thousands of Americans took to the streets to demand that Trump release his tax returns. "In my view Mr. Trump has a responsibility to share his tax returns to give transparency to the American public", Rosenthal said.
Pence is the son of a Korean War veteran and displays his late father's Bronze Star in his office.
"We have a new president and Kim Jong-un is trying to challenge him, is trying to get him back to the negotiating table", Mike Morell told CBS News on Friday.
China could play a key role and Mr Trump, having dropped his threat of economic war against Beijing, hopes that in return China will use its unique position to increase the pressure on Pyongyang.
The administration's emphasis, the officials said, will be on increasing pressure on Pyongyang with the help of China, North Korea's dominant trade partner. Trump has repeatedly issued ambiguous threats that if Beijing isn't willing to do more to squeeze the North, the USA might take the matter into its own hands.
Pence was given a report on North Korea's failed missile launch aboard Air Force Two en route to South Korea and talked with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone to discuss a response.
His visit followed an impressive parade Saturday to mark the "Day of the Sun", the most important day in the North Korean calendar, when Pyongyang showed off an array of new missiles and launchers. Japan's Defense Ministry will work closely with the USA and South Korea to gather and analyze information on North Korea, it said on its website.
The demilitarized zone (DMZ) is the highly-fortified de facto border between North and South Korea.
The regime followed that - according to USA and South Korean officials - with an attempted missile test Sunday from the eastern port of Sinpo.
The statement Sunday said it wasn't clear what kind of missile was involved.
The North has owned up to one such facility, at its Nyongbyon nuclear complex, but the USA government assumes it has more.
Intelligence officials have warned it could be less than two years away from achieving the ability to strike the continental United States. Last year, Pyongyang attempted to launch a Musudan missile on April 15, an auspicious date on which millions celebrate Kim II Sung's birthday.
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