Russian Ambassador At Large Alexander Alexeyev has been appointed Russia's new special envoy to the third round of six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue,Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said on Tuesday.

Yakovenko meanwhile said that Russia would maintain its policy of seeking a nuclear free status for and security of the states onthe Korean Peninsula, according to Itar-Tass news agency.

In an interview with Itar-Tass, Alexeyev admitted the gap between Pyongyang and Washington was still very wide.

However, untangling the Korean knot is still possible, he indicated.

"Provided the sides display goodwill and readiness to reasonable compromise, progress at the Beijing talks is a realistic prospect," Alexeyev noted.

Alexander Losyukov, Russia's current ambassador to Japan and former Deputy Foreign Minister, headed the Russian delegation at the first and second rounds of Beijing six-party talks in August 2003 and February this year. The third round of the talks will be held between June 23 and 26 in Beijing.

Source: Xinhua