Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is reportedly planning to visit the United States in early March.

Government sources say the two governments are making arrangements for Kishida's official visit. Kishida is considering addressing Congress.

During Kishida's visit to the US in November, President Joe Biden invited him to make an official visit as a state guest early next year.

An official visit to the US by a Japanese prime minister as a state guest would be the first in nine years, since Prime Minister Abe Shinzo made one in 2015.

Meanwhile, arrangements are underway for a summit of the leaders of Japan, China and South Korea in February or sometime later.

Japan has political differences with both China and South Korea. Tokyo wants to use the framework of dialogue among the three nations to exchange views on North Korea, which has made repeated ballistic missile launches, among other issues.

Japanese officials plan to decide on the timing of the two summits, taking into account the deliberation schedule of the next year's regular Diet session.