South Korea and Japan have agreed to push for the prompt opening of a working group meeting on preparations for another six-way nuclear talks.

The agreement came during a telephone conversation Thursday between Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and his Japanese counterpart Yoriko Kawaguchi.

Briefing Kawaguchi on the results of his recent visit to Beijing, Ban said that North Korea had expressed its willingness to continuously participate in the multilateral discussions.

Kawaguchi said she agrees on the need for the working group. She also asked for Seoul's continuous support in resolving the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea.

Meanwhile, South Korea, the United States and Japan are to hold high-level talks in San Francisco for two days from Wednesday. They are scheduled to discuss the agenda for a working-level meeting that will precede another six-way nuclear talks.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Shin Bong-kil said the trilateral meeting will be attended by South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly and Mitoji Yabunaka, director general at the Japanese Foreign Ministry.