MOSCOW. July 28 (Interfax) - Moscow has a positive outlook on the current atmosphere surrounding the ongoing consultations on the North Korean nuclear problem.
"Sure, this all is encouraging - like, for instance, inter-Korean contacts that have taken place for the first time since some sharp and dramatic events have happened in relations between the North and the South over the past months," a Russian Foreign Ministry source told Interfax on Thursday.
North Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan's consultations with his U.S. counterparts are slated for Thursday and Friday in New York, he said.
"Indeed, these all are quite positive things, which give us the hope that we can return to the six-party negotiating table in some foreseeable future," he said.
"All this facilitates steps toward relieving the tension on the Korean Peninsula and the region on the whole. Let's see what particular benefits this can bear, but in any case these are steps away from confrontation, which can only deserve praise," he said.
All the parties are working on developing this success, in which Russia has played a significant role, he said.
"It is safe to say that Russia has gotten things moving when the North Koreans abandoned their preconditions for returning to the negotiations in March, which is fundamentally important, and this happened in large part due to our efforts and based on our consultations. We believe that our efforts have contributed to producing a foundation for the current positive changes," he said.
Russia is maintaining regular contacts with North Korea and other participants in the six-party talks, he said.
"We are maintaining contacts and consultations with all the participants through the embassies, through direct meetings and by telephone. While the six-party [talks] are not formally proceeding, this doesn't mean that the pause is absolute and everyone is sitting in their corner," he said.
The source said this work should hopefully bring about its results.
"Let's hope and be guided by reasons of historic optimism," he said.