Russia sees DPRK's openness to new form of dialogue as "positive signal"

MOSCOW, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Moscow regards Pyongyang's remarks on its readiness to take part in a new form of dialogue on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula as "a positive signal," the Itar-Tass news agency quoted a Russian foreign ministry source as saying on Monday.

"It is a sign of the known flexibility (of Pyongyang)," Itar Tass quoted the unnamed source as saying. "This is a movement in the right direction."

It indicates a growing understanding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that there is no alternative to talks, said the source.

The diplomat also said various formats of negotiations, including bilateral talks, are possible to be held in order to resolve the DPRK nuclear issue.

A DRPK foreign ministry spokesman reiterated on Monday Pyongyang's stance of refusing to resume the six-party talks, but said there was another "specific and reserved form of dialogue" to address the situation, according to the DPRK's official KCNA news agency.

After the DPRK test-fired a satellite in early April, the UN Security Council issued a presidential statement, accusing it of violating UN resolutions. In response, the DPRK withdrew from the six-party talks and conducted its second nuclear test on May 25.

The DPRK officials have said at different occasions that the six-party talks had been dead, but the DPRK does not oppose direct dialogue with the United States.

The six-party talks involve the DPRK, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States.