US envoy: DPRK meetings encouraging

US Special Envoy for DPRK Issues says he feels "encouraged" by his meetings with DPRK officials in Pyongyang. Stephen Bosworth, made the statement in Moscow Monday. He was there to brief Russian officials on his three day meetings with DPRK officials last week.

Stephen Bosworth's talks were the first high-level contact with the DPRK since US President Barack Obama's administration took office.

The Special Envoy said at Monday's news briefing that he was encouraged by the fact that the DPRK representatives reiterated their view of the importance of the six-party talks, and of their commitment to the joint statement of September 2005.

Bosworth said, "We came away from our talks in Pyongyang encouraged by the atmosphere, which was very reasonable and businesslike, exchange of views with candor."

Bosworth wouldn't say when the nuclear talks might restart.

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister told the briefing that the Russian and American positions on the DPRK are "largely identical and very close."

Alexei Borodavkin, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, said, "We will continue to consult with our American partners, and with the other participants in the six party talks, with a view to resuming this process."

The latest UN sanctions ban the DPRK from exporting all arms or weapons. The measures were imposed in June after the country conducted a nuclear explosion, and test-fired missiles.

The sanctions are aimed at derailing the DPRK's nuclear weapons program. The measures also ban the country from selling conventional arms.