South Korea's chief nuclear envoy began a two-day trip to Beijing on Tuesday for consultations on ways to resume talks with North Korea.
  

Hwang Joon-kook, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, plans to hold talks with Wu Dawei, China's point man on Korea, later in the day.
  

"The two sides will discuss the issue of restarting meaningful denuclearization talks and strengthening sanctions and pressure (on Pyongyang)," a government official said.
  

He stressed the importance of China's "constructive role" in dealing with North Korea which can carry out provocative acts anytime.
  

The Foreign Ministry said Hwang's trip to Beijing this time is intended for "routine consultations" between the two countries, but it comes amid signs that Pyongyang-Beijing ties are improving.
  

China sent Liu Yunshan, a high-level Chinese communist party official, to Pyongyang last month as a special delegate to a major anniversary event. (Yonhap)