Officials from Japan and North Korea are holding their first government-level talks in four years.

The meetings Wednesday at the Japanese embassy in Beijing are being described as preliminary discussions between the two sides, which do not have formal diplomatic relations.

Japan and North Korea last met in 2008. Their relationship has long been strained by disputes over North Korea's nuclear program and Japan's claims that North Korea kidnapped Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s.

North Korea has admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese nationals, but said the issue has been resolved since it later allowed five abductees to return home.

Japan suspects North Korea is still hiding survivors and has abducted more people than it admits.