Russia, Japan see no alternative to six-party talks with Pyongyang

MOSCOW, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- There were no other ways than the resumption of the six-party talks to resolve the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula, said foreign ministers of Russia and Japan here on Monday.

Noting a slight improvement of circumstances over the issue, Russian top diplomat Sergei Lavrov stressed that "the resumption of six-party talks is mandatory."

"We consider it necessary to discuss all questions that arise in a particular format, taking into consideration the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council (that) remain in force," said Lavrov at a press conference after talks with his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada.

Okada also said the only way for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) "to overcome the current situation is to return to six-party talks."

The Japanese government intended to discuss issues with Pyongyang "on a complex basis," added Okada, who is on a two-day visit to Russia since Sunday.

Both Lavrov and Okada said they had no information on whether the DPRK will produce new rockets or nuclear weapons.

The six-party nuclear talks, involving the DPRK, the United States, China, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, have been stalled since the DPRK quit the forum in April in protest against the UN condemnation of its missile tests.

Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. special envoy to the DPRK, paid a visit to Pyongyang earlier this month to persuade the DPRK to return to negotiating table.

During last week's consultations in Moscow, Bosworth said the United States will sign a peace treaty with the DPRK only if Pyongyang scraps its disputed nuclear program, according to a report of the RIA Novosti news agency.