ARLINGTON, Va. — One day after North Korea conducted what it claims was an underground nuclear test, the Pentagon announced that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will meet this weekend with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea.

Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters the trilateral talks between the three countries’ defense leaders already were scheduled for Saturday as part of an annual gathering of Asian defense ministers in Singapore, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

"Undoubtedly, the developments in North Korea over the weekend will be a focus of that conversation," he said.

Gates first will give a speech on Saturday on security issues in the region. Later, he will meet privately with the defense ministers of South Korea, Lee Sang-hee, and Japan, Yasukazu Hamada.