Japan, the United States and South Korea are making arrangements to hold a meeting of their foreign ministers possibly in mid-February in Hawaii to advance their cooperation in dealing with North Korea, diplomatic sources said Thursday.

If realized, it will be the first such gathering since Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida took office in October last year. The move comes as North Korea continues to test-fire ballistic missiles despite U.S. calls for dialogue.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui Yong will be the participants. The last time the three countries had an in-person foreign ministerial meeting was in September in New York.

During the meeting, the top diplomats are likely to share their concerns that North Korea's recent series of ballistic missile launches poses a threat to the peace and stability of the international community, while discussing measures to discourage Pyongyang from further provocations.

North Korea last week hinted at resuming nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests, both of which were last conducted in 2017, before the country began its diplomatic overture to the United States and South Korea.

But direct talks between the United States and North Korea on Pyongyang's denuclearization failed to make headway before Donald Trump's departure from the White House in January last year.

The U.S. administration of President Joe Biden has repeatedly said it is open to diplomacy and is willing to conduct diplomatic engagements with North Korea with "no preconditions." But North Korea has not responded to Washington's request so far.

The trilateral meeting in Hawaii is also expected to take place around the time Japan, the United States, Australia and India are planning a meeting of the Quad group among their foreign ministers in Australia.

While Japan, the United States and South Korea are hoping for an in-person foreign ministerial meeting, the latest wave of the coronavirus pandemic could lead to a change of plans, according to the sources.