Senior officials of South Korea, the United States and Japan are discussing preparations for a new round of six-way talks aimed at settling North Korea's 22 month-old nuclear standoff.

On the second day of their meeting in Tokyo Friday, the three countries are expected to address the type of compensation to be provided to Pyongyang in the event it scraps its nuclear programs, and the subsequent verification and monitoring procedures for an envisaged nuclear dismantlement.

According to Japan's Asahi Shiumbun newspaper, the three countries are also considering lengthening a proposed three-month timeframe for the beginning of a prospective dismantlement process, in which the North would be offered energy aid, security assurances and other benefits if it pledges to end its nuclear ambitions.

Earlier on Thursday, the three countries agreed to closely work together to open the fourth round of six-party nuclear discussions by the end of this month as was agreed in the last round of discussions in June.

The South Korean representative to the nuke talks, Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Soo-hyuck, also addressed Seoul's recent declaration that it had conducted a one-time only uranium-enrichment experiment four years ago, as well as a separate test that had produced a 'minute' amount of plutonium in the early 1980s.

The three countries have stressed the need to minimize the possible effects Seoul's recent declarations could have on the six-nation nuclear talks.