Kim Jong-il, the North Korean top leader, met with Konstantin Pulikovski, Russian presidential envoy in the Far East, and his delegation on Monday.

The two sides held warm and friendly talks, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported.

Pulikovski conveyed a personal letter and a gift of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the North Korean leader.

On Friday, Putin sent a message of greetings to Kim on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japan's colonial rule.

Putin expected that "the traditional partnership between Russia and North Korea would successfully develop in the future on the basic principle laid down in the treaty of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation concluded in 2000."

He also hoped that "the constructive dialogue on urgent international issues," in clear reference to the six-party talks, would gain in depth in the interests of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Asia.

The fourth round of talks involving China, the US, Japan, Russia, North and South Korea adjourned on August 7 as the six parties failed to reach consensus on a joint document on North Korea's nuclear program.

The talks are to reconvene in the week of August 29 in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2005)