TOKYO - Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday discussed the possibility that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) may be gearing up to test a long-range rocket.

In talks held by phone, the pair agreed that the possibility of the DPRK launching a long-range rocket existed based on recent intelligence gathered and urged the DPRK to exercise restraint.

"We will work closely with the United States and other countries involved and take all possible measures to ensure the safety of our people," Kishida told local media after his call with Kerry.

Kishida and Kerry also discussed a possible UN Security Council resolution on the nuclear test that the DPRK carried out on Jan 6 in contravention of past resolutions, local media reports said.

The DPRK last launched what was described as a long-range rocket in December 2012, although the DPRK maintained it was launching a satellite.