Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) looks through a
list of people's questions during a live brodcast in Moscow yesterday.
-Xinhua/AFP
The possibility of resuming the six-party talks on the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear program still exists, Russian President
Vladimir Putin said yesterday.
However, it requires efforts by all parties involved in the negotiating
process, Putin said in a live televised dialogue with a group of Russian and
foreign citizens.
He added that the resumption of the six-party talks and a compromise is
conditioned by the observance of the DPRK's right to the peaceful use of atomic
power.
According to Putin, the DPRK has recently signaled its readiness to return to
the negotiating table.
Putin reiterated Russia's concern over the nuclear test carried out by the
DPRK, which he said has undermined bilateral relations and threatened the
international regime of nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.
The six-party talks, which also involve China, Russia, the United States,
Japan and South Korea, have been stalled since September last year after the
U.S. imposed financial restrictions on Pyongyang.
The DPRK announced on Oct. 9 that it had successfully conducted its first
ever nuclear test, drawing a barrage of criticism from the international
community.