Russia urges U.S. to lift North Korean sanctions

Sergey Razov, the Russian ambassador to China and the head of Russia's delegation taking part in 6-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programme, has urged the U.S. to lift financial sanctions against Pyongyang.

In 2005, Washington imposed sanctions on North Korea and froze its accounts over alleged money laundering and counterfeiting of U.S. dollars.

In response, North Korea boycotted negotiations on its nuclear programme, which involved the U.S., North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China.

However, talks aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions resumed in December 2006.