U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone met in Tokyo Tuesday as part of Clinton’s first trip outside the U.S. since assuming the top post.

The two officials discussed ways to promote their countries' alliance and boost cooperation in regards to resolving North Korea’s nuclear issue.

Clinton and Nakasone shared the view that their countries’ alliance serves as a basic foundation to establish peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two officials also reaffirmed the importance of the six-way nuclear talks and stressed the need to strengthen trilateral cooperation with South Korea to get North Korea to completely abandon its nuclear ambitions.

In particular, Clinton and Nakasone also agreed to share information on any peculiar movement detected in the North, including preparations to launch a ballistic missile.