North Korea has confirmed it will not re-join international negotiations¹ on its nuclear disarmament.

朝鲜已经确定将不会就核问题再参加国际协商。

Pyongyang insists its launch carried a communications satellite

State media said Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov - who is in Pyongyang - had been notified.

Mr Lavrov was the first senior foreign visitor to the North since it quit the talks, expelled（驱逐，开除） UN inspectors² and vowed³ to restart its nuclear programme.

The move followed UN criticism of its recent rocket launch that many nations said was a long-range missile test.

Mr Lavrov's two-day visit focused on trying to persuade Pyongyang to return to six-nation negotiations - which include North and South Korea, China, Russia, the US and Japan.

The North's foreign ministry⁴ said Mr Lavrov's team had "paid attention to the DPRK's (North Korea's) position that it no longer needs six-party talks", in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"It is a difficult situation but one does not need to succumb⁵ to（屈服于） emotions and should concentrate on the foundation we already have," Mr Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian media after meeting his North Korean counterpart.

A letter from Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev was also sent to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, although Mr Lavrov did not meet him, KCNA reported.

Russia and China - which have traditionally warm ties with Pyongyang - have opposed（反对） Western attempts to impose new sanctions（制裁） following the 5 April launch.

But the two countries angered North Korea by supporting a less strongly worded condemnation⁶（非难） by the UN Security Council and tightened⁷ sanctions.

The six-party talks have stalled（失速的） in recent months since a landmark⁸ deal under which the North agreed to end its nuclear ambitions in return for aid and political incentives（刺激，鼓励）.

Last year North Korea partially⁹ disabled its Yongbyon reactor¹⁰ and handed over what it said was a complete declaration of its nuclear activities.

In return, the US removed North Korea from the list of countries it says sponsors terrorism.

But talks have broken down, with Washington and Pyongyang accusing each other of failing to meet obligations.