Japan will ask Pyongyang to convene bilateral talks Feb. 25 to discuss the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s.
That is the same day that the six-nation talks are scheduled to start, and the government will decide on a precise timetable after China presents a detailed schedule for the three-day multinational meeting, government sources said Tuesday.
They will be the second round of talks on North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
One of the sources said it is desirable "to have the bilateral talks as early as possible" to demonstrate Japan's desire to resolve the abduction issue.
The first round of talks between China, Japan, North and South Korea, Russia and the United States were held in late August.
Japan and North Korea held three bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the first round but failed to achieve a breakthrough on the abduction issue.
At those talks, they agreed to continue dialogue to resolve pending issues, including the abductions.
Japan has unsuccessfully been calling on North Korea since then to resume dialogue on the issue.