SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday he is skeptical that diplomacy will push North Korea to give up its nuclear program, and he raised the prospect of the North’s stance leading to “escalation and confrontation.”

In a question-and-answer session with reporters after meeting with South Korean government leaders, Panetta said he was concerned that North Korea is deliberately alternating between periods of modest accommodation with the West and episodes of violent aggression, perhaps with no real intention of surrendering its nuclear ambitions.

Asked whether he is skeptical about a renewed effort by the Obama administration to explore a possible new round of international negotiations over the North Korean nuclear program, Panetta said, “We’re not sure where those talks are headed at this point.” Discussions held this week in Geneva by American and North Korean diplomats produced no apparent breakthrough.

“For that reason, I guess the word ‘skepticism’ would be in order.”

Separately, the State Department’s top Asia policy official, Kurt Campbell, was in Seoul Thursday to brief officials on the Geneva talks.

Panetta said China “can do more” to push North Korea to give up its nuclear program.