MOSCOW SPEAKS FOR RESUMPTION OF HEXALATERAL TALKS ON NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR PROBLEM

MOSCOW, April 13 (RIA Novosti) - Moscow speaks for resuming hexalateral talks on the North Korean nuclear program and seeking a mutually acceptable solution to the problem, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alexeyev stated at a reception in the North Korean Embassy to Moscow on the occasion of the 93th anniversary of Kim Il Sung.

According to the diplomat, Russia will carry on efforts to enhance ties with the friendly Korean people and stabilize the situation in the region.

Moscow is interested in the development of bilateral relations with North Korea and does its best for this purpose, Alexeyev said. He noted that Russia believes hexalateral talks on the adjustment of the nuclear problem in the Korean Peninsula are the only means to solve the problem.

The groundwork for the development of bilateral relations is an agreement, which was signed in 2000 and which determines lines of cooperation in policy, economy and other sectors, including on the regional level.

"Russia knows what contribution Korean leader Kim Il Sung made to the development of our relations and enhance our friendship. And we know that incumbent Korean leader Kim Jong Il is ready to follow this line," Alexeyev was quoted as saying.