US envoy says he’s encouraged by talks in NKorea

MOSCOW (AP) - The special U.S. envoy to North Korea says he has been encouraged by his meetings with North Korean officials.
    Stephen Bosworth is in Moscow to brief Russian officials on his three days of meetings with North Korean officials last week.
    He said at Monday’s briefing that he was encouraged by the fact that the North Korean representatives reiterated their view of the importance of the six-party talks and of their commitment to the joint statement of September 2005.
    He wouldn’t say when the nuclear talks could restart.
    The 2005 pact calls for North Korea to end its nuclear programs in exchange for economic aid, security assurances and diplomatic recognition.
    Bosworth’s talks were the Obama administration’s first high-level contact with North Korea.