BEIJING -- Beijing has difficulties in communicating with Pyongyang, as their high-level communication channel has been virtually discontinued on account of its traditional ally's continued nuclear and missile tests, a diplomatic source in the Chinese captial said Monday.

"It appears true that communication (between the two sides) is not smooth. It's been a long time since meaningful exchanges of high-ranking officials were cut off, and nothing about their restarting has been heard," the source said. 

The latest significant contact was a "strategic dialog" between then-North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan and his Chinese counterpart Zhang Yesui in June 2013 to discuss the reopening of six-party talks, the source said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho briefly to warn against the North's military provocations during an annual ASEAN regional forum in Manila early last month, and a bilateral meeting has yet to be held at the ongoing UN General Assembly, the source pointed out.

"Ranking Chinese officials voiced their concerns over relations with Pyongyang (when I met them)," the source said.

China says it is making all possible efforts to dissuade the North from developing nuclear weapons and missiles, but the effect of these efforts is limited, the source added. (Yonhap)