China has urged regional powers to put the March sinking of a Republic of Korea (RoK) warship behind them and return to the negotiating table to end a cycle of confrontation that has raised tension to new heights.

Six-way nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, Japan, Russia and China have been in limbo since 2008.

Chinese state media said a delegation led by Beijing's chief nuclear envoy Wu Dawei visited Pyongyang earlier this week for talks on security issues and the six-party talks process.

China, which had been the host of the six-way talks that began in 2003, has urged regional powers to "flip the page of the Cheonan incident" and quickly resume negotiations.

Last month, after the UN Security Council statement did not directly blame it for the sinking of a RoK warship, apparently in deference to Beijing, Pyongyang said it was willing to return to the talks.

The RoK and the United States have said the DPRK must first admit responsibility for the Cheonan incident before they would consider the resumption of the six-way forum.

The DPRK has consistently sought talks with Washington, claiming the status of a legitimate nuclear power, and has also demanded new negotiations to replace the armistice ending the 1950-53 Korean War with a permanent peace treaty.

The RoK and the United States have rejected the idea of peace talks, saying the dismantling of the DPRK’s nuclear programme in an irreversible manner must come first.