MOSCOW — The Russian Foreign Ministry is not expecting any breakthroughs at the next round of six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program, a deputy minister said.

"Following an interval in the talks lasting more than a year, it would be too optimistic to expect any breakthroughs," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alekseyev said in the wake of North Korea's and the United States' decision to resume talks.

The fourth round of talks is due to take place in Beijing in late July.

Alekseyev said Moscow nevertheless hoped certain progress would be achieved at the fourth round in comparison with previous rounds.

"The parties should naturally confirm they understand the final goals of the settlement process," said Alekseyev.

The parties to talks on North Korea are Russia, North Korea, South Korea, the United States, China, and Japan. The dialogue hit an impasse after three rounds in Beijing in August 2003 over differences between North Korea and the U.S. Last week, Pyongyang and Washington agreed to resume talks and hold their fourth round in late July.

North Korea announced it had nuclear weapons on February 12 this year.