Japan strongly supports the U.S. in its efforts to encourage Pyongyang to abide by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Despite the August 31, 1998 North Korean missile test which overflew the Home Islands, Japan has maintained its support for the Korean Energy Development Organization (KEDO) and the Agreed Framework, which seeks to freeze the North Korean nuclear program. The U.S., Japan, and South Korea closely coordinate and consult trilaterally on policy toward North Korea, at least on a government level. Japan has limited economic and commercial ties with North Korea. Japanese normalization talks halted when North Korea refused to discuss a number of issues with Japan.

Japan and South Korea have many disputes. The former president in South Korea Roh Moo-hyun is rejecting the conference with the Prime Minister in Japan. However Both The former president in Japan Fukuda Yasuo and Korean President Lee Myung-bak are emphasizing the importance of Japan-South Korea relations to "open a new era in Japan-South Korea relations"