Russia expects US flexibility on Iran as on NKorea

MOSCOW, Feb 14 (Reuters) Russia expects the United States to show the same flexibility in resolving the problem of Iran's nuclear programme as it did with North Korea, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying today.

''I would like to note the efforts by the American side (which) made compromise steps towards Pyongyang and unblocked the six-party process,'' Lavrov told journalists. ''(I) would like to see the same flexibility, a sensible flexibility ... with regards to Iran's nuclear programme.'' Under a breakthrough agreement struck yesterday, Pyongyang will freeze the reactor at the heart of its nuclear programme and allow international inspections of the site in return for about 300 million dollars worth of aid.

The deal also includes provisions for the United States and Japan to discuss normalising ties with North Korea and says Washington will begin the process of removing Pyongyang from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The accord was reached by North and South Korea, the United States, Japan, Russia and China four months after the secretive state stunned the world by testing a nuclear device.

Reuters KR DB2302