Russia hails North Korea's return to IAEA cooperation

Moscow, Mar 14 (UNI) Russia today welcomed reports that North Korea was resuming cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

''I welcome this decision. This is good, it is the right thing to do'', the chief of the Russian Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) Sergei Kiriyenko told Interfax news agency.

''This is an indication of the successful advancement of the talks with North Korea in which Russia took part,'' Mr Kiriyenko said.

The head of the IAEA Mohamed ElBaradei said in Beijing today that Pyongyang and the IAEA had agreed on what was needed to be done to resume cooperation.

''The sides should look to the future, rather than to the past,'' Mr ElBaradei said at a press conference after returning from Pyongyang.

North Korea was ready to fulfil its commitments undertaken in line with joint documents of the six-party talks and the resumption of cooperation with the IAEA, he said.

UNI