The Russian Foreign Ministry said on February 10 the security problem of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should be resolved through negotiations rather than a nuclear arms race, the Interfax news agency reported.

In connection with the DPRK's decision to suspend participation in the six-nation negotiations on the nuclear problem, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said that Russia respects and gives attention to the DPRK's security concerns, but thinks that "the problem should be resolved through negotiations rather than arms race, especially nuclear arms race".

Accusing the United States of seeking to topple its political system and threatening it with a nuclear stick, the DPRK on Thursday stated it decided to suspend its participation in the six-party talks on the nuclear issue for an "indefinite period".

Yakovenko said Moscow regrets the decision made by the DPRK and thinks this attitude contradicts Pyongyang's declared intention to strive for de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Russia views the six-nation mechanism of Beijing negotiations as the best way to settle the nuclear problem of the Korean Peninsula, the spokesman said.

"Despite firmness of the statement of the North Korean Foreign Ministry, Russia still hopes for possible soonest resumption of the six-nation negotiations and compromises in settling problems with due consideration of interests of all sides," he said.

The six-nation mechanism involves the United States, the DPRK, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan. Three rounds of six-nation talks have been held in Beijing since August 2003.

Source: Xinhua