The U.S. and Japan have reaffirmed their position to seek denuclearization of North Korea through the three-step approach.

Japan's Kyodo News Agency said that Japanese top nuclear envoy Shinsuke Sugiyama met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell in the U.S. on Wednesday local time. Sugiyama told reporters that the two nations are committed to the three-step plan, which would see the improvement of inter-Korean relations followed by dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea before the resumption of the six-party talks.

Sugiyama also said that he and Campbell agreed to continue preparing for the South Korea-U.S.-Japan foreign ministers’ meeting, which is expected to be scheduled during the ASEAN Regional Forum to be held in Bali, Indonesia late in July.