The head of the upper house of the Russian parliament says dialogue is the only way North Korea’s nuclear issue can be resolved.

Federation Council Speaker Sergey Mironov told reporters Wednesday that he made such a statement when he met with Chairman of North Korea’s Supreme People's Assembly Choe Tae-bok and Premier Kim Yong-il in Pyongyang on Tuesday.

Mironov also told reporters that the North Korean leadership vowed to resume efforts to resolve its nuclear issue using dialogue, given that there is no other acceptable alternative. Mironov’s comments suggest that Pyongyang may be planning to return to the negotiation table to discuss its nuclear program.

Mironov also said that the North’s concerns about the military force of the South Korea-U.S.-Japan alliance are justified. He said that all countries, including the North, have the right to strengthen their security for the purpose of defending their sovereign power.