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Russia, N. Korea optimistic about new six-party talks - deputy FM

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Moscow and Pyongyang are optimistic over the continuation in Beijing of six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear problem, a Russian deputy foreign minister said Monday.
MOSCOW, January 22 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow and Pyongyang are optimistic over the continuation in Beijing of six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear problem, a Russian deputy foreign minister said Monday.

"Our North Korean colleagues are quite optimistic about further six-party talks. This shows that there has been certain progress in talks with the U.S.," said Alexander Losyukov, the head of the Russian delegation at the talks.

The negotiations, which involve the two Koreas, Russia, China, Japan and the United States, were launched in 2003 to persuade Pyongyang to give up its nuclear ambitions.

In September 2005, North Korea signed a "joint statement" committing itself to abandoning its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees.

But the reclusive communist state boycotted the process two months later following Washington's demand that its accounts at a Macau-based bank be frozen for alleged money laundering and counterfeiting of U.S. dollars. Since then, North Korea has conducted its first nuclear test and tested ballistic missiles.

The talks resumed in December 2006, following a 13-month standoff, but ended without result. At a symbolic ceremony, the six participating delegations made a joint statement reiterating their commitment to further negotiations in the same format.

North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator arrived in Beijing Monday, a visit some observers expect will lead to a breakthrough in the stalled talks. The diplomat has recently paid official visits to the Russian and German capitals.

While in Moscow, Kim Kye Gwan and Alexander Losyukov discussed prospects for continuing the six-nation talks, following Kim's recent contacts with U.S. envoy Christopher Hill in Berlin last week.

Pyongyang earlier insisted that the possibility of scrapping its nuclear program can only be discussed once financial sanctions are lifted, but reportedly agreed to take steps towards nuclear disarmament following the bilateral talks in Berlin, raising hopes for progress and a quick resumption of the talks.

Hill, who met Sunday with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and left China hours before Kim's arrival, said separate U.S.-North Korea talks on the financial issue are expected to start soon, along with the six-party talks, adding that the Chinese government is set to arrange the start of the meetings between the negotiating parties.

South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing diplomatic sources in Seoul, said earlier the talks could resume during the week beginning February 5.

An influential South Korean newspaper wrote Monday that the U.S. agreed at the Berlin talks to discuss concluding a peace treaty instead of a half-century truce even if Pyongyang makes only initial steps toward terminating its nuclear program.

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