U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg will visit China Tuesday in order to secure a timetable to resume the six-party nuclear talks.

A diplomatic source says that during the visit the U.S. expects to receive North Korea's final say on its return date to the talks.

Assistant Secretary of State Philip Crowley has encouraged the prompt resumption of the six-way dialogue, saying that Washington expects progress from North Korea and that Steinberg will discuss the matter during his visit to China.

If the North provides a clear date for returning to the talks, the U.S. plans to resume the six-way dialogue following bilateral contacts within the month.

Japanese media meanwhile say that China has proposed a three-stage process to resume the talks, which would include contact between the U.S. and North Korea and a six-way preliminary meeting before opening the official six-way talks.