China has sent a clear signal that it would place more emphasis on resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, South Korea's top diplomat said Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se cited a summit deal last week between President Park Geun-hye and her Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

In the Beijing meeting, the leaders agreed to push for the resumption of "meaningful" six-party talks on the North's nuclear program.

They also warned Pyongyang not to make any more provocative acts.

Beijing's stance is not new but Yun noted the timing of the summit statement.

The U.S.-led Western powers recently reached a landmark nuclear deal with Iran, and China played a "constructive" role in reducing inter-Korean tensions that soared following the North's Aug. 4 land mine assault, said the minister.

"It's an expression of (China's) will to place a priority on the North Korean nuclear issue," he said in a radio talk show on the results of Park's visit to China.

The U.S. has long pressed China to do more to bring the North back to the negotiating table, saying there is no other country that has more influence in that regard.

Yun also said it's of significance that the presidents of South Korea and China have begun consultations on the issue of reunifying the two Koreas.

Returning from China, Park told reporters that there will be "various discussions" between the two sides on ways to achieve a peaceful reunification on Korea as early as possible. She did not elaborate.

The minister also said that Seoul and Beijing have a "strategic dialogue mechanism on various levels. It's important to talk constantly each other, making use of such a multi-layer consultation system." (Yonhap)