Japan says it will hold bilateral talks with North Korea during the third round of six-way nuclear talks, which will kick off in Beijing on Wednesday.

Sources close to the Japanese government said Saturday that the North Korea-Japan bilateral discussions may take place on the opening day of the higher-level nuclear talks and that the two sides will hold in-depth talks on ways to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Japan plans to point out to the North the seriousness of its nuclear threats to Tokyo's security.

Sources also said the two sides will discuss a possible reunion between repatriated abductee Hitomi Soga, her American husband Charles Jenkins and their two daughters next month.