Japan’s Kyodo News says South Korea, the United States and Japan are fine-tuning views to open high-level talks in Washington next month.

The report quoted a number of Japanese government sources as saying on Tuesday that the three countries are mulling holding the talks around January 16th to discuss North Korea’s situation following the death of Kim Jong-il.

The report said the meeting is likely to be attended by South Korea’s top nuclear negotiator Lim Sung-nam, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell and director general of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanic affairs bureau, Shinsuke Sugiyama.

The three countries are expected to urge the North’s new leadership to make efforts toward denuclearization.

The Kyodo News report came after Japan’s NHK said Campbell is seeking to visit South Korea, Japan and China early next year to discuss issues surrounding North Korea.