(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    PYONGYANG, July 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Kim Jong-il, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday.

    The two sides discussed bilateral relations and the solution tothe nucl ear issue of the Korean Peninsula, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

    "We back the DPRK's proposal of 'reward for freeze' and suggestion of taking simultaneous actions on the principle of ' words for words' and 'action for action'," said Lavrov, adding that "I feel that the Korean people will understand this position."

    During the meeting, Lavrov said that a peaceful solution should be the only way to resolve the nuclear issue and the DPRK had rights to use nuclear power peacefully, the KCNA reported.

    Lavrov conveyed a personal letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kim Jong-il.

    Lavrov arrived in Pyongyang on July 4 for a two-day visit after ending his trip to South Korea, where he met with South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and said the two countries would "closely cooperate" in six-party talks.

    During the just-closed third round of six-party talks, which comprises China, the DPRK, the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan, the DPRK advanced the proposal of "reward for freeze", demanding for energy aid in exchange for its nuclear freeze. The six nations agreed to hold more meetings on such proposals in a bid to make a breakthrough over the nuclear issue. Enditem