The top U.S. State Department negotiator in talks with North Korea departed China late Friday local time and is heading back to the U.S. after failing to win an audience with his DPRK counterparts this week, according to South Korean media who confirmed his flight reservation.

Stephen Biegun — who became Deputy Secretary of State following a confirmation vote in the U.S. Senate on Thursday — was holding talks on the ongoing U.S.-DPRK stalemate in South Korea, Japan, and China since last Sunday. 

He departed Beijing via United Airlines flight UA808 to Washington, DC on Friday evening, South