Russia said that it will actively participate in the working group for the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, as all parties concerned have fully recognized that the necessity of such a working group is an important result of the second round six-party talks.

Alexander Losiukov, head of the Russian delegation and also Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, said here Saturday at the Russian embassy, Russia will dispatch seven to 10 people to join the working group, including diplomats and nuclear issue experts. The working group will work out topics for discussions at the next round talks, and start the expert consultation pinpointing the topics.

Losiukov said the just-concluded second round talks, held in a pragmatic manner, was highly constructive. To keep this trend will be conducive to boosting the peaceful proceeding of the talks.

The third round talks are expected to open in the middle of this year, which is also approved by all parties concerned, he said.

Losiukov said what type of nuclear weapons the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) developed is not clear yet. DPRK all along denied the alleged enriched uranium program, unwilling to exchange information with any other party.

DPRK raised proposal on freezing nuclear facilities, and wished to receive more response, Losiukov said, adding that the US side has not responded to it.

Though the results of the talks were not prominent, Losiukov said, it was important that this round of talks has laid a solid foundation for all parties to carry on consultation and narrow differences.

(Xinhua News Agency February 29, 2004)