The United States and Japan have begun a two-day meeting in Washington to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue.

U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood told a briefing that Tokyo's nuclear envoy Akitaka Saiki is visiting the U.S. until Friday.

Wood said that during his stay, Saiki will meet with Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth, nuclear envoy Sung Kim and coordinator on North Korea sanctions Philip Goldberg.

The spokesman said the visit is part of U.S. talks with its allies and partners to persuade North Korea to abide by its international obligations under the 2005 joint statement in which Pyongyang agreed on complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearization.