president xi more favorable trade concessions. and he also said that he's willing to reconsider labeling china a currency manipulator. so those are the carrots. what's the stick? the stick is that the u.s. is preparing options to sanction chinese companies, chinese banks that do business with north korea. so i think they're hoping that china will become a more constructive partner, and that's why you've heard president trump say in the last few days. but they're ready to kind of put pressure on china if they don't play ball. >> china is key, without a key. elise labott, thanks very much. also thanks to nick paton walsh as well. we are learning more about north korea's failed missile test. u.s. officials are saying the missile blew up almost immediately after leaving the launchpad. the test came shortly before vice president mike pence arrived in south korea. cnn's will ripley is in the north korean capital of pyongyang and he has more. >> reporter: most north koreans will never know about sunday's failed missile launch. that missile test fired from the