In Tokyo, a senior Foreign Ministry official says South Korea, the United States and Japan will meet early next month to coordinate views ahead of a fresh round of six-way nuclear discussions.

South Korea will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck while Assistant State Secretary James Kelly will head the U.S. delegation to the trilateral meeting. Japan will be represented by Mitoji Yabunaka, director-general for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of Japan's Foreign Ministry.

Lee is scheduled to visit Japan this week and meet with Yabunaka prior to next month's meeting.

The three countries along with North Korea, China and Russia earlier agreed to hold a third round of high-level nuclear talks before the end of next month, but have yet to set the date.