S. Korean, Russian nuclear envoys to discuss future step

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- The chief nuclear negotiators of South Korea and Russia will meet in Moscow this week to discuss the next step in efforts to end North Korea's nuclear program, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Kim Sook plans to head to Russia on Wednesday for the meeting with his Russian
counterpart Alexei Borodavkin, in which they will have consultations on the
agreed-upon guidelines for verifying the Pyongyang's nuclear claims, it added. He
is scheduled to return to Seoul on Saturday.
Other agenda items include ways of facilitating the North's disabling of its
Yongybon nuclear facilities and the delivery of energy aid to the impoverished
nation as a reward, as well as a schedule for the next round of six-way talks
also involving the U.S., China, and Japan.
South Korea wants the talks to be reconvened as early as possible but China has
not proposed a date yet, a ministry official said.
"The host China appears to be too busy preparing for the ASEM summit (slated for
later this week) to focus on the six-party talks," the official said in a
background briefing for reporters, asking not to be named.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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