(RIA Novosti) - Discord at the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program was one of the reasons that drove Pyongyang to conduct a nuclear test October 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.
"One of the reasons [of the nuclear test] was the failure of some parties at the talks to find a proper tone," Putin said during his annual televised question-and-answer session, reports Trend.
The six-nation talks involving North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Japan, China and the United States were launched in 2003 to persuade North Korea to give up its controversial nuclear program after Pyongyang withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The talks stalled last November over Pyongyang's demand that the U.S. lift sanctions imposed on it for its alleged involvement in counterfeiting and other illegal activities.
Russia advocates the resumption of talks, and has called on the United States and North Korea to take a more flexible approach to the standoff to end the deadlock.
North Korea hinted following the nuclear test that it might be willing to return to the negotiating table if Washington agrees to drop its sanctions.
President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed the issue with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her visit in Moscow last weekend. Rice hailed Pyongyang's declared willingness to re-engage in the talks, but said Washington's financial sanctions on Pyongyang will remain in place.