Russia calls on North Korea to return to talks

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia called on Tuesday on North Korea to return to international talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program.

"We call on North Korea to adhere to United Nations Security Council resolution 1718 and ... to return to the negotiating table in the interests of denuclearizing the Korean peninsula," Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The United Nations passed resolution 1718 after North Korea's nuclear test in 2006.

North Korea said on Tuesday it was no longer bound by an international nuclear disarmament deal and that six-country nuclear talks had become "useless."

Russia's Foreign Ministry said the talks between the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States should remain a priority and called on all sides to fulfill their obligations.

Russia repeatedly warned North Korea against launching a long-range rocket, the ministry said.

(Reporting by Conor Humphries, writing by Guy Faulconbridge)