Japan on Wednesday welcomed proposed trilateral talks between North Korea, the United States and China over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons development but called for its own inclusion in the future.
The trilateral talks are reportedly scheduled for April 23 in Beijing.
Japan has sought multilateral talks that would include Japan and South Korea.
Tokyo accepted the latest development as Washington said the two countries would be invited to participate in a future "full scale" dialogue, a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi welcomed the talks even if Japan is not taking part in them.
"It's a good thing that a momentum for dialogue has emerged," Koizumi said Wednesday evening. "I welcome it because it's a result of behind-the-scenes negotiations by relevant countries."
"The key task is to change the current situation," said a Foreign Ministry official in charge of Asian affairs. "We welcome any factor to alter it."
On Friday, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. will hold a meeting in Washington to adjust policies, Senior Vice Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said.
Japan will urge the U.S. to avoid confronting North Korea and push for a further meeting to include Japan and South Korea, a senior Foreign Ministry official explained on condition of anonymity.