Top diplomats of Japan, the United States and South Korea plan to meet Thursday in the South Korean capital Seoul to discuss matters over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear test, top government spokesman said yesterday.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Kim Moon are expected to confirm their cooperation on the recent U.N. Security Council resolution on the DPRK, as well as consolidating their unity in demanding that the DPRK return to the six-way talks at an early date.

"It has significance for the three countries to firmly cooperate and issue messages" to the DPRK at present, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.

The planned meeting follows the U.N. Security Council's adoption of the resolution which imposed sanctions against the DPRK for its recent nuclear test.

Rice will visit Japan on Wednesday and Thursday before visiting South Korea on Thursday and China on Friday, according the U.S. State Department.