The statement said the message was delivered by North Korea's ambassador to Moscow, Pak Ui Chun, during a meeting Thursday with Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Fedotov.

"On his leadership's instructions, the ambassador said that North Korea supports holding six-nation talks with Russia's participation to resolve the current difficult situation on the Korean peninsula, and is taking active steps to organise (these talks)," the ministry said.

"Russia welcomed this constructive decision of Pyongyang," it added.

Washington has been pressing for expanded dialogue with Pyongyang following initial three-way talks in Beijing in April involving China, North Korea and the United States.

North Korea has been considering a new US proposal for resuming three-party talks followed quickly by six-party talks with Seoul, Tokyo and Moscow joining the forum.

The Stalinist state has demanded one-on-one talks with Washington, but said it may show flexibility if Washington offers it security guarantees in the form of a non-aggression pact.

The nuclear crisis flared in October when Washington said Pyongyang had admitted to having a secret nuclear program in violation of a 1994 bilateral accord that froze North Korea's nuclear activities.

WAR.WIRE