The assertion that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) owns nuclear weapons is "not very sound", sources quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losiukov as saying Thursday.

Losiukov said, according to Russian experts, the DPRK might master the nuclear technology after conducting some research work on it.

Losiukov, who is also the head of the Russian delegation to the ongoing Beijing six-party talks, did not rule out the possibility that the DPRK has built nuclear facilities, but he noted that building nuclear facilities is not equivalent to owning nuclear weapons.

The current talks did not dwell on the details of the DPRK's nuclear weapons program, the deputy foreign minister was quoted assaying.

"This issue is complicated, and many unclear points will be left for further discussion," he added.
 
(Xinhua News Agency August 29, 2003)