The six countries holding talks on North Korea's nuclear arms program are expected to set up a working group by the end of the month to prepare for their next meeting.
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Monday that during last week's six-party talks in Beijing, the participants "agreed to hold the next round by the end of June and set up a working group within March."
Koizumi spoke to reporters after being briefed by Mitoji Yabunaka, a senior Foreign Ministry official who headed Japan's delegation during the Beijing talks.