US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, travels to south Asia today seeking support for tough sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons testing.
But speaking to reporters on her way to Asia, Ms Rice said: "It is our goal to see a de-escalation of this."
She said her mission was intended in part to reassure South Korea and Japan they had no need to develop a nuclear deterrent of their own in response to the North's weapons program
Ms Rice is due in Tokyo later today as the world braced for a second nuclear test that intelligence experts believe is likely following an increase in activity at North Korea's test site.
Officials said North Korea had moved equipment into a place that may indicate it plans a second nuclear test. NBC television quoted officials as saying the North's military had already informed China.
Despite widespread criticism and international sanctions imposed since its first test on October 9th, Pyongyang remained defiant saying it had withstood international pressure before.
On Tuesday night it staged a massive choreographed sound and light extravaganza to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the "Down with Imperialism Union", a precursor to the communist Workers Party that now rules the impoverished country.
The official KCNA news agency said leader Kim Jong-il made his first public appearance since last week's nuclear test, listening enthusiastically to a concert where songs such as "Love of Comrades" and "Always Looking up to the Leader" were performed.
Ms Rice's biggest challenge on her tour will be obtaining firm assurances from China, worried over the possible collapse of its neighbour, that it will follow through on the UN resolution.
Japan's Kyodo news agency, quoting a government official, said Chinese President Hu Jintao had voiced concern about how the sanctions are applied.
"Things must be done in such a way that they don't bring about an escalation of the situation into something uncontrollable," he told Japanese parliamentarians.