According to one embodiment, a laser drive circuit includes a photodetector which receives part of laser light emitted from a laser element to a recording medium independently of reflection laser light reflected by the recording medium, and outputs an output corresponding to the strength thereof, an integration circuit which integrates the output from the photodetector for a predetermined time, and a setting circuit which sets the intensity of a laser drive current supplied to the laser element on the basis of the output from the integration circuit.