Tokyo plans to discuss North Korean missile tests with Moscow and Beijing, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters on Monday.

"We are considering holding consultations with China and Russia over this issue," he said.

The Japanese top diplomat already held telephone conversations with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se. Kishida said he had "agreed with Tillerson that the United Nations Security Council needs to send a strong message to North Korea."

On Monday, Secretary General of the Japanese National Security Council Shotaro Yachi held telephone consultations with the US president’s National Security Adviser Herbert McMaster. "The parties agreed to coordinate their steps concerning Pyongyang," the Japanese Security Council said in a statement.

Early on Monday, North Korea fired four ballistic missiles into the sea off Japan’s northwest coast. According to the Japanese officials, three of the missiles flew about 1,000 km and fell into Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Tokyo strongly condemned Pyongyang’s actions and sent a note of protest via diplomatic channels.