South Korea and Japan will begin working-level consultations as early as next month on Tokyo's use of its right to "collective self-defense," officials said Sunday.

The move follows a deal between Defense Minister Han Min-koo and his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, in Singapore on Saturday.

In the meeting held Saturday on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, the ministers agreed on the basic principle that Tokyo needs Seoul's consent in exercising the right on matters related with the Korean Peninsula.

They also agreed to discuss relevant details in working-level talks between the militaries of the two sides.

A South Korean ministry official said the issue will be addressed in the Defense Trilateral Talks, a regular deputy ministerial-level meeting also involving the United States.

"If needed, however, South Korea and Japan will hold a working-level policy meeting," he said.

At issue is the scope of Japan's use of the right to collective self-defense and specific conditions, said the official.

Last month, the U.S. and Japan revised the guidelines for their defense cooperation to allow Japan to fight alongside its allies and partner nations even when not under attack itself.

It raised concerns among Koreans who believe Japanese leaders have yet to learn lessons from the nation's wartime past. Japan brutally occupied Korea from 1910-45.

Appearing on Japanese television, the country's defense chief, Nakatani, said his troops may attack a North Korean missile base if the U.S. comes under its missile attack.

South Korean officials made clear that Japan requires South Korea's approval for every military action on the peninsula. (Yonhap)