Moscow warns against 'inflaming passions' on N.Korea
The six-party talks are scheduled to resume December 18. The negotiations, involving North and South Korea, Russia, Japan, China and the U.S., were launched in 2003 to persuade North Korea to give up its controversial nuclear program after Pyongyang withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
"I would urge [parties concerned] not to inflame passions," Sergei Lavrov said.
He said all those interested to resolve the central problem - the nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula - "should focus their efforts on it, not pursue some other agendas."
A senior Russian MP said Friday bilateral contacts between North Korean and United States diplomats alongside the six-party talks on the reclusive communist state's nuclear problem could be the key to resolving the issue,.
Konstantin Kosachev, head of the State Duma Foreign Relations Committee, said the round of talks due to be held in Beijing may not take place.
"North Korea has repeatedly reneged on previous agreements at the last moment," he said. "In this context, bilateral contacts between North Korean and U.S. delegations alongside multilateral consultations in the six-nation format are of key importance."
