Japan's top diplomat has met with his British, French and Canadian counterparts and affirmed the importance of maintaining unity among the Group of Seven nations and a wider international community to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa is in Germany for G7 talks. He separately met with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly on Thursday.

Hayashi used the meetings to outline the results of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's visits to Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Italy and Britain from late April through early May.

Hayashi said Japan had been carrying out diplomatic efforts in Asia to maintain pressure on Russia.

Hayashi and Joly agreed to cooperate on efforts to deal with North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and its abductions of Japanese nationals.

Japan's Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo said Pyongyang launched three ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday. He said they landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone and there were no reports of damage to aircraft or ships.

Foreign affairs chiefs from the G7 nations began a three-day meeting on Thursday. They will start full-fledged discussions on Ukraine and other issues on Friday.

Hayashi is expected to detail the sanctions and other measures Japan has taken in response to the Russian invasion. He will also likely discuss plans to increase G7 coordination to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region.