MOSCOW, August 26 (RIA Novosti) - Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alekseyev, the head of the Russian delegation at the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program, met with North Korean Ambassador to Moscow Pak Ui Chun Friday.
"The sides discussed the continuation of the fourth round of six-nation talks and developments in the resolution of the Korean nuclear problem," the Foreign Ministry said, giving no further details.
The fourth round of six-nation talks involving the United States, South Korea, China, Japan, North Korea, and Russia was launched on July 26 in Beijing. The negotiations have been on recess since August 7.
China and Japan say the talks may resume on September 2.
A diplomatic source in Moscow said Russia wanted the talks to resume under coordinated terms, which have not yet been fixed.
North Korea has agreed to give up a military nuclear program, but the United States should admit Pyongyang's right to a peaceful nuclear program, the source said.
The parties demand that North Korea return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and submit to the authority of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the source said. Under those circumstances, North Korea would have the right to peaceful nuclear activities and cooperation with other countries in this sphere. However, the U.S. delegation is opposed to it.
If the contradiction is not resolved, the talks will become pointless, the source added. "But we hope the Unites States changes its position."
