MOSCOW, February 9 (Itar-Tass) — Russia and South Korea discussed prospects for resuming the six-party talks on the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
The ministry commented on the results of Thursday’s meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and South Korean Special Representative for the Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lim Sung-nam.
“During the meeting, the Russian and South Korean officials exchanged their views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and prospects for resuming the six-party talks,” the ministry said.
North Korea’s nuclear dossier was discussed by the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Glyn Davies and chief negotiator Clifford Hart in Moscow on February 1. “The sides confirmed that there was no alternative to solving the North Korean nuclear problem by political and diplomatic means in compliance with the Joint Statement adopted by Russia, China, North Korea, the U.S., South Korea and Japan on September 19, 2005 and U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1718 and 1874. The parties showed common interest in re-launching negotiations as soon as possible and agreed to continue cooperation in this direction,” the ministry said.
The six-party talks started in August 2003. In September 2005 their participants adopted a joint communique in which North Korea expressed its readiness to give up its nuclear potential in exchange for security guarantees, political recognition and economic assistance. Several steps were taken to implement the agreements. But in December 2008 the talks reached the deadlock because of the dispute on measures to monitor the fulfilment of obligations by Pyongyang.