"I do not rule out such a possibility," said Alexander Losyukov, who will lead the Russian delegation at a new round of talks between deputy foreign ministers in Beijing February 8.
Losyukov said that if the negotiations in the Chinese capital brought positive results, a ministerial meeting would have to be convened to give the process political impetus.
The six-nation talks, aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear program, have been held since August 2003 and involve Russia, South and North Korea, the United States, China, and Japan. Deputy foreign ministers of the six countries will gather for the third stage of the fifth round of talks next Thursday.
South Korea's top nuclear negotiator, Chun Yung-woo, is now in Moscow to discuss arrangements for the February 8 talks.
"The consultations were held to exchange opinions ahead of the new round and to compare our positions, and that is what we did," Losyukov said, adding that Russia and South Korea similarly viewed the negotiating process, its goals and possible developments.
The U.S. and North Korea are also holding closed consultations in Beijing on U.S. financial sanctions in an attempt to remove the major stumbling bloc in the negotiation process.
"The general idea is that progress in the negotiations is possible, but a great deal depends on the details," Losyukov said.
In September 2005, North Korea signed a "joint statement" committing itself to abandoning its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees.
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.
Pyongyang earlier insisted that the possibility of scrapping its nuclear program could only be discussed once financial sanctions are lifted, but reportedly agreed to take steps towards nuclear disarmament following talks between North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator Kim Kye Gwan and U.S. envoy Christopher Hill in Berlin, raising hopes for progress and a quick resumption of talks.
