MOSCOW, October 6 (Itar-Tass) - Russia has welcomed as positive the intention of North Korea and the United States to hold a bilateral dialogue as well as Pyongyang’s readiness to resume the six-party talks on nuclear dossier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“We support the intention of North Korea and the United States to hold a bilateral dialogue as a prelude and a preparatory stage for resuming the six-party talks,” he said. “They will finalize the dates (of the bilateral meeting) themselves. This is more likely a technical than political issue.”

The diplomat noted that there was nothing exceptional in such contacts. “They have been held earlier within the framework of the six-party negotiating process. Such contacts exist not only between the U.S. and North Korea, but also between other negotiators,” he said.

Moreover, the diplomat confirmed that Russia was ready for resumption of the six-party talks on North Korea’s denuclearisation. “We hail North Korea’s readiness to return to the six-party negotiations,” he said. “There is no need to postpone resumption of the negotiating process.”