Six-party talks over North Korea could resume

SEOUL, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Efforts by North Korea and Russia to revive the six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear program, stalled since 2007, have begun.

South Korea's Yonhap News Service, citing North Korea's state-run KCNA, said Tuesday the decision to increase efforts to bring back the negotiations -- which include the United States, South Korea, North Korea, China, Russia and Japan -- were agreed upon when Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with North Korean envoy Choe Ryong-hae in Moscow last week.

The talks began in 2003 with the goal of finding a peaceful resolution to security concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons program, and ended in 2007 with a walkout by North Korea. Promises made in 2012 by North Korea, including a suspension of nuclear tests and permitting inspection of its nuclear facilities, were tempered by threats against South Korea and tests of its long-range missiles. The United States has resisted North Korea's requests to resume the talks, demanding North Korea first halt its nuclear program.