"It is necessary to start negotiations as soon as possible. Only that can ease the tension," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said, adding that Russia will welcome negotiations in any format.

　　He said Russia is happy to see the resumption of the Beijing talks between the United States, the DPRK and China.

　　China hosted the multilateral talks on the DPRK nuclear issue in April. Last week Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo traveled to Pyongyang and Washington for consultations.

　　Losyukov said the United States insisted on bringing South Korea, Japan and possibly Russia into the negotiation.

　　"I think it would be useful to hold the negotiations in a broader format if possible. We would be ready to take part in this type of format," he said.

　　The South Korean government backed Russia's participation in possible multilateral talks concerning the settlement of the problem, according to Losyukov.

　　Losyukov, who is in charge of Asian affairs, is currently on a visit to Seoul.

　　After meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan on Monday, Losyukov told Itar-Tass news agency that Moscow had issued a decree to check the civil defense in the Far East given "the gradually deteriorating" situation on the Korean Peninsula.

　　"It is a quite natural reaction in such situation and a concern aroused by aggravating situation," he was quoted as saying.

　　The Russian deputy minister said Thursday that Russia was taking preventive measures to defend its national interests in case of a possible conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

　　"Such measures are being taken in the country as a whole but, of course, primarily in the Far East," he said. Enditem