The US, Japan and South Korea are looking to continue monitoring North Korea sanctions without the UN monitoring team. (Source: Shutterstock)

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that, according to the country's Foreign Ministry, the agreement was reached during phone calls between nuclear envoys of the three countries.

The meeting was attended by South Korean Vice Foreign Minister for Strategy and Intelligence Cho Koo Rae, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Japanese Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian and Oceanian Affairs Namazu Hiroyuki.

The move comes as a UN panel of experts monitoring the implementation of sanctions against North Korea was disbanded after Russia vetoed a draft resolution to extend its mandate earlier this year.

“The three countries agreed to accelerate discussions on establishing and introducing an alternative mechanism this year to closely monitor and report on the implementation of UNSC sanctions against North Korea,” the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The three sides will continue to lead the international community's thorough implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, while strengthening cooperation among allied countries.

Officials from South Korea, the United States and Japan also shared their assessments of recent developments in Russia-North Korea relations.

Representatives of the three countries expressed deep concern over North Korea's continued military actions, including ballistic missile launches, and reaffirmed their strong commitment to achieving the goal of denuclearization of North Korea.

Seoul, Tokyo and Washington continue to call on Pyongyang to return to dialogue for peace, stability and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.