Interfax news agency quoted diplomatic sources as saying Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak, responsible for Moscow's relations with Washington, would also help prepare next month's summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President George W. Bush at Camp David.

"Russian-US consultations in Washington are expected to address a wide range of issues related to preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to the United States," the unidentified diplomat told Interfax.

"They will also focus on the situation on the Korean peninsula."

Interfax did not say which US officials Kislyak would meet in Washington.

Russia will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov at the six-nation talks on North Korea that are scheduled to begin in Beijing on August 27.

It will mark Russia's first official appearance at international negotiations over Washington's nuclear standoff with Pyongyang.

Russia, the United States, China, Japan and the two Koreas will be represented by deputy foreign ministers at the meetings in Beijing, which are expected to last for three days.

Russia has urged the United States to sign a formal non-aggression pact with North Korea. Washington has refused to do this, hinting that it could instead come to a less formal written agreement with Pyongyang.

Moscow and Beijing have also volunteered to offer North Korea assurances of non-aggression.

In a separate statement, the Russian foreign ministry said Losyukov held consultations with Japan's ambassador to Moscow during which the two sides "expressed hope that an optimal decision for resolving existing problems and keeping the Korean paninsula nuclear-free" is reached.

The Russian statement said the Beijing talks should aim at keeping "peace and stability in Northeast Asia" and that both Russia and Japan would enter the talks with that aim in mind.

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