Russia to hold talks with North Korea over nuclear program June 29, 2013 -- Updated 1917 GMT (0317 HKT) A top North Korean official will meet with Russian officials on Thursday in Moscow They'll discuss halting Pyongyang's nuclear program, a Russia ministry says Meeting is "part of efforts to resume the six-party talks," according to that report (CNN) -- North Korea's chief nuclear negotiator will meet senior Russian officials next week in Moscow in discussions about possibly ending the embattled nation's nuclear program, Russia's foreign ministry said, according to a state news report. The talks involving Kim Kye-gwan, North Korea's first deputy foreign minister, and Russian deputy foreign ministers Vladimir Titov and Igor Morgulov will take place Thursday. The meeting is "part of efforts to resume the six-party talks" related to North Korea's controversial nuclear program, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement, according to a report from the RIA Novosti news agency. Those talks have been in a virtual standstill for years. Tensions in and around the Korean Peninsula heightened earlier this year when Pyongyang defiantly moved forward with its nuclear and missile programs despite widespread opposition.