TOKYO - JAPAN'S foreign minister criticised China for withholding information about its nuclear weapons on Monday and urged more transparency from Beijing.

Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone also called North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes a serious threat to regional and global stability.

'China continues to modernize its nuclear arsenals but has not undertaken any nuclear arms reductions,' Mr Nakasone said. 'Nor does the country disclose any information on its nuclear arsenals.'

Mr Nakasone, speaking at a Tokyo hotel to outline Japan's initiative for global nuclear disarmament, also urged other nuclear states, including the US, Russia, India and Pakistan, to step up their effort toward nuclear disarmament.

'Improved transparency and nuclear weapons reduction by China and other nuclear states are vital for the progress of global nuclear arms reduction,' he said.

Beijing says its nuclear weapons development is for defense only.

Japan also has repeatedly criticized China's growing military spending and its murkiness.

Mr Nakasone's speech came before Prime Minister Taro Aso heads to Beijing on Wednesday for a two-day official visit.

Mr Nakasone praised President Barack Obama's recent speech mapping out his vision to achieve a world without atomic weapons. Mr Nakasone said Japan fully supports Washington's initiative.

The day Mr Obama spoke in Prague, North Korea launched a rocket that flew over Japan. Mr Nakasone condemned the launch and urged the North to 'seriously face the message from the international community.' -- AP