Japan and the United States agreed to boost security cooperation, Japanese TV-channel NHK said.
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed during a bilateral meeting in Washington on Thursday to review joint security goals, the channel said adding that the goals for cooperation will be revealed during Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan's visit to the U.S. in spring.
The decision came in light of recent moves by China and North Korea, as the sides believe that China is currently expanding its maritime activities, while North Korea is increasing its provocations against South Korea, NHK said.
Tensions have been high since Pyongyang shelled the South's Yeonpyeong Island last November, killing four people.
The stalemate comes months after international investigators blamed Pyongyang for sinking a South Korean warship.
In December, the United States and South Korea held large-scale military drills in the area, which led the North to threaten "holy war" using its nuclear deterrent.
MOSCOW, January 7 (RIA Novosti)
