Speaking to reporters after talks with senior U.S. officials, Motegi said he agreed to hold an informal trilateral senior working-level meeting for Japan, South Korea and the U.S. to coordinate their policies at an early stage before the six-nation talks.

"We want to try to come up with a unified message," Motegi said, indicating the three nations will work at the informal meeting to compile a comprehensive package of proposals for resolving outstanding issues.

During a meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs James Kelly, Motegi said he told him Japan wants to take up the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korea at the six-nation talks.

Motegi said that Kelly supported this and promised to back Japan, saying the U.S. totally agrees with Japan's position.

Motegi also held talks with senior Defense Department and White House officials.

The six nations -- China, Japan, South and North Korea, Russia and the U.S. -- are arranging to meet in Beijing in late August or early September to discuss the North's nuclear program.