Japan's Defense Minister Hamada Yasukazu will hold talks with his US and South Korean counterparts on the sidelines of a major security forum underway in Singapore.

They aim to increase cooperation in light of North Korea's attempts to launch what it calls a military reconnaissance satellite.

The defense ministers are in Singapore for the Shangri-La Dialogue. The discussion focuses on security in the Asia-Pacific.

Hamada is set to hold trilateral talks with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup on Saturday.

Hamada wants to discuss creating a system for immediately sharing data on the North's missile launches.

He also plans to hold his first in-person meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu.

Hamada is expected to call on China to exercise self-restraint instead of attempting to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the East China Sea.

But he also wants to foster improved defense communications with Beijing as part of a push for more constructive bilateral ties.