Japan and China have agreed that six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program should be held regularly to speed up the process, a senior Foreign Ministry official said Wednesday.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo brought up the idea during a meeting with Japanese government officials last week, the official said.
"The North Korean issue will not make progress if (the talks are) held sporadically," the official said on condition of anonymity. "I personally think (meetings) should be held every two months."
The official said the United States, South Korea and Russia agree, hinting that it is up to North Korea as to whether it will be carried out.
Chinese leaders, who are hosting the talks, are apparently irritated that they have to dispatch senior officials to Pyongyang to request North Korea's attendance before each round is held.
China asked Japan what it planned to say in the next round of talks, but Japan said it cannot reveal its position ahead of the negotiations, the official said.