Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency have agreed to enhance cooperation on various nuclear security issues including North Korea's nuclear programs, Japanese officials said.
Abe met with Yukiya Amano, director general of the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Wednesday, after arriving in Washington earlier the same day for the biennial Nuclear Security Summit that takes place Thursday and Friday.
In the meeting, Amano briefed Abe about the IAEA's activities including strengthening nuclear materials security, verification and monitoring of a deal over Iran's nuclear programs, and North Korea-related issues.
Abe told Amano that Tokyo appreciates the IAEA's activities and will continue to support them, according to the officials.
Abe and Amano will participate in the two-day summit that will focus on how to ensure control over nuclear substances and prevent them falling into the hands of terrorists.
The prime minister also attended a dinner event Wednesday with U.S. dignitaries, including World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan at the Japanese ambassador's residence in Washington.