The government is considering holding informal talks with North Korea on the sidelines of an international security forum in Mongolia next week after the historic U.S.-North Korea summit is held, government sources said Friday.

Since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to hold direct talks with North Korea, Tokyo hopes to lay the groundwork for such a meeting to focus on the abduction issue, according to the sources.

Abe has placed priority on resolving the issue and U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to raise it during Tuesday's momentous meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.