The Russian government says North Korea is ready to resume international talks connected to its nuclear programme.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
"We have received assurances from the high representative of North Korea that Pyongyang is ready for the resumption of the six-party talks without any preconditions on the basis of a joint statement passed by participants in the talks in September 2005."
Lavrov has made the comments following a meeting in Moscow with Choe Ryong Hae, a special envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
North Korea has been pressing for a resumption of the 6-party talks for quite some time.
However, the US, Japan and South Korea have been demanding Pyongyang shut down its nuclear programs before any resumption of talks can take place.
Meantime, North Korea has strongly denounced the UN resolution on human rights in the country and indicated it might conduct a new nuclear test to counter "hostile" US policy toward Pyongyang.
The UN General Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution, that recommends the Security Council refer North Korea to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
