The Associated Press reports that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg has discussed the North Korean nuclear issue with Chinese officials in Beijing.

The report said Steinberg met with General Ma Xiaotian, deputy head of the People's Liberation Army General Staff Department, but did not include details of their discussion.

The U.S. point man on North Korea also met with State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vice President Xi Jinping.

Steinberg will arrive in Seoul Tuesday evening.

He is scheduled to meet with President Lee Myung-bak’s senior secretary for foreign affairs and security, Kim Sung-hwan, Wednesday to discuss South Korea-U.S. issues.