Moscow praises N. Korea negotiations

MOSCOW, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Russia says progress last year in disabling nuclear facilities in North Korea sets the stage for further negotiations in 2008.

"We are ready to come to Beijing and discuss joint measures of further denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," said Alexander Losyukov, Russia's deputy foreign minister.

Losyukov spoke with reporters after meeting with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, a lead negotiator in the talks, ITAR-TASS reported Saturday.

Hill, who met Friday with Losyukov in Moscow, said they discussed ways to boost the denuclearization process during the next round of talks, which could take place next month in China, the Russian news agency reported reported.