N Korean nuclear talks should resume despite setbacks: Russia

Moscow, Feb 6 (UNI) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov today said his country was in favour of holding the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear programme despite denuclearisation delays.

"The situation is still not very promising, as the Americans are rigidly sticking to their position - they will not make compromise steps towards North Korea until there is full disclosure of Pyongyang's nuclear activities, he said here while commenting on the Washington's rigid position on the issue.

"We know that the Americans have very strict demands on North Korea. And since problems have arisen, they must be brought forward to be considered by all participants," he said.

MrLosyukov is the Russia's envoy to the six-nation talks on North Korean nuclear issue.

He pointed out that apart from Pyongyang and Washington, none of the parties to talks know what has been disclosed on the North's nuclear activities, as dialogue on this issue is being conducted solely between the two sides.

"It would therefore be good for everyone to gather and receive full information," he said adding the heads of delegations to six-party talks might meet before April.

They need to get together in one or two months, as the exchange of information is going on right now. They need to find out what proposals Koreans made regarding their programme, something that was only made available to the US," Interfax news agency quoted Losyukov as saying.

He also said Russia might ship another 50,000 tonnes of fuel oil to North Korea in March.

UNI XC VD DB2200