Japanese media have reported that the United States and Japan have agreed to set up joint strategic goals regarding China and North Korea during the recent talks between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara in Washington.

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun daily on Friday reported that Clinton and Maehara agreed to accelerate discussions to boost and facilitate bilateral cooperation on Japan's defense and other issues in the region.

The paper said that the agreement is based on the two nations' judgment that they need to enhance responses to North Korea, which is not halting its provocations as shown in its shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in November.