The high-level meeting on nuclear issues, the second of its kind, is intended for discussions on their coordinated countermeasures against North Korea's recent missile provocation and to deepen cooperation on its continued nuclear ambitions.

On Wednesday, North Korea announced that it successfully tested a new ICBM capable of hitting anywhere in the US, declaring that the launch marks the completion of its nuclear armament.

The test came after the North had not carried out major provocations since Sept. 15, casting cold water over cautious expectations that efforts will resume to contain tensions on the Korean Peninsula through talks and negotiations. (Yonhap)