Japan has dismissed South Korean media reports that claim Japan's foreign minister expressed a hope to forge a security alliance with Seoul.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry clarified remarks made by Minister Seiji Maehara on Tuesday, saying that the minister simply stressed the need to create an environment for talks on security between Seoul and Tokyo and that he did not mention a bilateral military alliance.

A South Korean newspaper reported Monday that Maehara expressed his hope to forge a security alliance with Seoul in the face of North Korean provocations.