Hijjah, 1431H/Nov 24, 2010, SPA -- The United States said on Wednesday it believes North Korea's artillery attack on a South Korean island was linked to leader Kim Jong-il's effort to pass power to his son. Admiral Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military officer, said that given its unique influence on North Korea's leadership, China should take a leading role in resolving the crisis. "China is pivotal to moving North Korea in a fundamentally different direction," Reuters quoted Mullen as adding.