Japan's Foreign Minister says the dispute over the DPRK'S nuclear program can only be resolved through negotiations. But Seiji Maehara also insists Pyongyang must take what he called "concrete action" before multi-national talks can resume.

Speaking at a joint news conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington, Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said Tokyo was "gravely concerned" about the DPRK threat to regional stability.

Seiji Maehara, Japanese Foreign Minister, said, "I believe what is important is for the DPRK to take concrete actions with sincerity and with good faith.If the DPRK takes concrete actions, then I think there should be no reason to reject the six-party talks. In any case,the DPRK should refrain from provocations and face the international community. "

Clinton said Japan and the US were consulting very closely and were "determined to move forward to end Pyongyang's provocative behavior.

Hillart Clinton, US Secretary of State, said, "I agree with the minister. We are consulting very closely. Even today (US) Ambassador (Stephen) Bosworth is in Tokyo to report on his recent visits to both Seoul and Beijing, but we are determined to move forward, to end the provocative behavior and to once again focus on the de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula."

The parties have been vague about what is required of the DPRK to rejoin the talks. All they will say is Pyongyang should meet its obligations under a 2005 agreement to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

The DPRK has signaled its willingness to return to the six-party talks, and called for "unconditional and early" talks with South Korea, but Seoul quickly dismissed the offer as insincere.

Tensions between the two have been at their highest level in years since November's exchange of fire on a South Korean-held island, which killed four South Koreans.

Pyongyang has recently made some conciliatory moves. It says it wants the stalled nuclear disarmament talks to restart. But both Washington and Seoul say the DPRK must first fulfill past nuclear disarmament commitments.