Russian lawmaker says not sure of N. Korea's return to nuclear talks

SEOUL, Nov. 28 (Yonhap) -- A Russian lawmaker said he was not sure whether North
Korea has decided to return to six-nation nuclear talks, commenting on his recent
trip to Pyongyang where he met with the North's titular head of state, a U.S.
broadcaster reported Saturday.

Sergei Mikhailovich Mironov, chairman of the Federation Council of Russia, was
quoted as telling a Russian news outlet that it was difficult to say whether the
North was ready to resume the negotiations on ending its atomic weapons program.
He said he could not get any definite answers from North Korean officials on the
issue during his visit, Voice of America reported.
Mironov made a two-day trip to Pyongyang from Tuesday, during which he met with
the North's No. 2 leader Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme
People's Assembly.
Pyongyang has boycotted the nuclear talks since late last year and declared in
April that it had quit the negotiations, which also involve South Korea, the
U.S., Japan, China and Russia.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, however, told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during
his Pyongyang visit last month that the North may return to the negotiating table
depending on the outcome of its anticipated dialogue with the United States.
Stephen Bosworth, special U.S. representative for North Korea policy, is set to
travel to the communist North Dec. 8-10 for talks on resuming the nuclear
negotiations.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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