The U.S. State Department says China notified Washington in advance of a North Korean special envoy's visit to Beijing.

At a briefing Wednesday, State Department deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell told reporters about the prior notice given of North Korean Vice Marshal Choe Ryong-hae's trip.

Ventrell said Washington and Beijing are of the same view that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is essential in order for any diplomatic process to take place with Pyongyang.

He also touched on the possibility of Japan and North Korea holding direct talks, stressing that the five member states of the six-party nuclear talks other than the North share the paramount goal of verifiable denuclearization of North Korea. He said that the aim of denuclearization is central to the five countries' joint efforts, and that they will continue close collaboration.

Seoul-based Yonhap news reported that a South Korean official said Beijing also tipped off Seoul in advance of Choe's visit. The news agency pointed out that giving prior notice to both Seoul and Washington is an unusual move by China considering it's kept diplomatic exchanges with North Korea quiet in the past until they wrapped up.

Choe, the director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army, arrived in China on Wednesday and met with Wang Jiarui, the head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department. Choe is also expected to continue on with a series of meetings with leaders of China, which could include President Xi Jinping.