Clinton to speak on N.Korea situation with counterparts

WASHINGTON. December 20. KAZINFORM The United States will exchange information on the situation around the North Korean nuclear program with Russia and other partners from among the six international intermediaries, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Monday; RIA Novosti reported.

Nuland said consultations were being held "at the embassy level, but [State] Secretary [Hillary Clinton] is also looking forward to talking to her counterparts when those calls can be scheduled."

North Korea has been subjected to several rounds of UN Security Council sanctions since it declared itself a nuclear power in 2005.

The state broke off talks with South Korea, China, the United States, Japan and Russia on its nuclear program in April 2009, after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning its missile tests.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack on December 17 at age 69. His youngest son, Kim Jong-un, is tipped as a possible successor.