The US is trying to work out the best way to engage North Korea following Kim Jong-il's death.

They are trying to reach out to China that has strong influence in North Korea, US officials say Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state, and her Chinese counterpart share the same goals for North Korea during the transition.

However, US officials say that they do not expect immediate progress from a country still in mourning.

Al Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan reports from Washington DC on the challenges facing policy-makers in the US.