North Korea may turn to Putin for talks help

MOSCOW ― North Korea is seeking Russian support for negotiations with the United States to resolve nuclear weapons issues. A well-informed source here said Sunday that Pyeongyang has asked Moscow to host bilateral talks with the United States in Russia.
“At the end of May, Kim Jong-il of North Korea sent a letter to President Vladimir Putin,” the source said. “Because China has recently shifted its ground in relations with the North, it is possible that Pyeongyang is leaning toward Moscow to convey its messages to Washington.”
Mr. Putin told the British Broadcasting Corporation Sunday that Russia was willing to host follow-up nuclear talks, and stressed that his government is in close touch with all the parties concerned to keep up the momentum of the three-way talks in Beijing in April.