Park asks Putin to play role in reviving nuclear talks

By Kim Kwang-tae PARIS, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- President Park Geun-hye asked her Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to play an active role to help revive meaningful talks on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. Russia has been involved in the long-stalled six-nation talks aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons program in return for political concessions and economic aid. The nuclear talks -- which also involve the two Koreas, the U.S., China and Japan -- were last held in 2008. Park also asked Putin to cooperate and support South Korea's efforts to create conditions for a peaceful reunification on the Korean Peninsula, according to the South Korean presidential office. The summit -- the second in two years -- took place on the sidelines of the leaders' event of a crucial U.N. conference on climate change in Paris. The leaders' event is designed to build political momentum for negotiations on a new legally binding deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Putin told Park that he will make joint efforts to resolve the dispute over North Korea's nuclear program through diplomatic means, though he did not elaborate. The two leaders also vowed to further boost their relations by cooperating in developing Russia's Far East and Siberia. Putin visited South Korea for talks with Park in November 2013. The two leaders were seated next to each other during a massive military parade in China in September. The meeting is the latest in a string of summits Park has held with leaders of major regional powers in recent months. In October, Park met with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington and hosted the leaders of China and Japan for a trilateral summit in Seoul. entropy@yna.co.kr (END)