MOSCOW, Aug. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and his Japanese counterpart Yoriko Kawaguchi on Friday stressed the importance of peacefully settling the dispute over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear programs, the Interfax reported.

　　During their telephone talks, Ivanov and Kawaguchi noted it is important to ensure a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

　　The two sides "expressed the hope that multilateral talks, which will open in Beijing in the near future, will be successful," said the statement.

　　The six-nation talks on the DPRK's nuclear issue, which involves the DPRK, the United States, China, South Korea, Russia and Japan, will be held on August 27-29 in Beijing.

　　Ivanov and Kawaguchi "confirmed their countries' intention to continue intensive contact on the Korean issue," the statement said.

　　Russia has geared up for consultations with parties involved inthe DPRK's nuclear issue since the DPRK announced earlier this month that the six-way talks could be held soon in Beijing.

　　Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov on Wednesday held separate consultations with envoys from the DPRK and South Korea in Moscow. He also discussed the issue with Chinese diplomats in Beijing earlier this week.

　　The Interfax quoted a diplomatic source as saying on Thursday that Russia may hold separate consultations with the United States and Japan next week on the DPRK nuclear issue. Enditem