MOSCOW. Aug 29 (Interfax) - Moscow may step up bilateral negotiations with Pyongyang on the latter's nuclear and missile program for the purpose of alleviating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and with the support from a group of leading states, State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Leonid Slutsky told Interfax.
"Practically everyone is unanimous about the situation: the range of sanctions imposed on North Korea has been spent, the problem has not been resolved, the situation is deteriorating, and statements suggesting that the negotiations should stop and the use of force against Pyongyang might become unavoidable are frequently being made," Slutsky said.
There is need for new ideas, and resources capable of changing the 'field' of negotiations should be used, Slutsky said. "I'd say it should become more amicable and invite to mutual understanding," he said.
"For instance, a group of leading states may vest Moscow with a mandate for bilateral negotiations with Pyongyang on the mandatory condition the United States freezes it military activity in the region and 'slows down' threats against North Korea," Slutsky said.