Update at 0915 KST: This story has been updated to include a quote from an expert.

Stephen Biegun, the U.S. special representative for North Korea, spoke on the phone with one of Moscow’s top diplomats on Tuesday to discuss the “problems” on the Korean peninsula, a statement from Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said.

The call between Biegun and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Igor Morgulov, appeared to focus on the countries’ ongoing work to engage in diplomacy with Pyongyang, the foreign ministry statement suggested.

“The current state and prospects of the process of political and diplomatic settlement of the