Russia hails U.S. special envoy's trip to DPRK

MOSCOW, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia welcomes the contact between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and hopes it will be conducive to the resumption of six-party talks, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.

"Russia feels satisfied that the United States and the DPRK have been able to carry out a businesslike dialogue," spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told a regular press briefing.

Russia is positive about any forms of contact concerning the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and believes dialogues will help restart six-party negotiations, Nesterenko said.

"We hope the United States and the DPRK will soon find a common language, which would make it possible to resume six-nation talks at an early date," he said.

Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special envoy to the DPRK, on Thursday wrapped up a three-day visit to Pyongyang that was aimed at persuading the DPRK to return to the negotiating table.

Launched in 2003, the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue involve China, the DPRK, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Japan.

The DPRK quit the forum in April in protest against the U.S. condemnation of its missile tests, but it has recently shifted to a more conciliatory tone.