24.05 Moscow Welcomes N.Korea�s Bid to Return to Nuclear Talks

MOSCOW, May 24 (RIA Novosti) � Russia regards reports that North Korea is willing to return to six-party talks on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as a �positive development,� a senior Russian diplomat said Friday.

China�s Xinhua news agency and its South Korean equivalent Yonhap reported on Friday that Choe Ryong Hae, a special envoy for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and reaffirmed that Pyongyang �is ready to work with parties concerned to properly solve relevant issues through multiform dialogue and consultation, including the six-party talks.�

�It is a positive development, especially after weeks of harsh military rhetoric from Pyongyang,� Russian Ambassador at Large Grigory Logvinov told reporters in Moscow.

�We all worked hard for this, and Russia has made serious efforts to avert the looming crisis and create conditions for the resumption of the talks,� Logvinov said, adding that now efforts should be focused on �transforming political statements into practical actions.�

The six-party talks on North Korea�s nuclear program involve North and South Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Russia. The talks have been stalled since 2009.

Tensions rose sharply on the Korean Peninsula in December last year after North Korea tested a Taepodong 2 missile and again in February when it carried out its third nuclear test.