NHK has learned that Japan’s national security chief will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing to discuss North Korea’s imminent sending of troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine.

Sources say Akiba Takeo, secretary general of Japan’s National Security Secretariat, traveled to Beijing on Sunday and is expected to meet Wang on Monday.

The two officials said they would discuss how the intervention of North Korean troops in Ukraine could affect East Asia and possible ways to respond to the move.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday that China will not interfere in relations between North Korea and Russia.

He said that they are two independent sovereign states and how they will develop bilateral relations is their business.

Japanese diplomatic sources say the Japanese government recognizes the importance of exchanging views with China amid speculation that Beijing is uneasy about the deepening of military ties between North Korea and Russia.

Akiba and Wang are also expected to discuss arrangements for holding the Japan-China summit.