South Korea is in talks with China to set up a summit between President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping for late June, the presidential spokeswoman said Wednesday.

China will be Park's second overseas trip since taking office in February. In early May, she visited the United States and held summit talks with President Barack Obama where they reaffirmed that the two countries are firmly united against threats from North Korea.

"South Korea and China are undertaking discussions about the president's visit to China, with a late June (trip) in mind," presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing said in a text message to reporters. "Specific schedules will be announced as soon as they are fixed."

Park has said she would visit China at the earliest possible date.

North Korea is expected to be a key topic for the first summit between Park and Xi. Beijing is considered the only country with any meaningful influence over Pyongyang as a key provider of economic assistance and diplomatic support.

China is also South Korea's largest trading partner. (Yonhap News)