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CHINA IS READY TO RESUME NEGOTIATIONS ON DPRK NUCLEAR PROBLEM

RIA Novosti

ASTANA, February 25 (RIA Novosti) - Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing considers it possible to resume the six-sided negotiations on the nuclear problem of the DPRK.

"I think that such conditions exist," he said at a news conference in Astana where he takes part in the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The six-sided negotiations on stopping the North Korean nuclear program, which were started in Beijing in August 2003, are attended by high-ranking diplomats from Russia, China, the DPRK, the Republic of Korea, the USA and Japan.

Two weeks ago North Korea said that it stopped this dialogue for an indefinite time, having referred to the hostility on the part of the USA.

According to the Chinese Foreign Minister, for the sake of resuming the negotiations, Chinese leader Hu Jintao has sent a message to the DPRK supreme leadership.

" The message pointed out that it was necessary to preserve adherence to the nuclear-free status, security and peace on the Korean Peninsula and to resume the six-sided negotiations as soon as possible. In reply the DPRK stated that it remained devoted to the aim of preserving the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons and was ready to participate in the six-sided negotiations," Mr. Zhaoxing underscored.

"I believe that the continuation of the negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the Korean nuclear problem meets the common aims of the world community," Mr. Zhaoxing said.

The head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry has informed his colleagues from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization about the reply of the North Korean side.