LONDON. July 6: A senior Russian official said Friday that a Cold War treaty of friendship with North Korea signed exactly 35 years ago. would not be renewed and that a new treaty was needed. TTAR-Tass said in a report monitored here, reports AFP.

The news agency said Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksander. Panov told it on Friday at a reception at the North Korean embassy in Moscow that Russia was waiting for North Korea to respond to a new draft treaty. He said the old treaty had fulfilled its historic role. "

Moscow does not consider that the revision of the treaty of friendship, cooperation and . mutual assistance of July 6. 1961 between the USSR and the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) upsets the balance of forces on

the Korean Peninsula." Itar-Tass said, quoting Panov

Panov said that quite different conditions exist compared with those under which the treaty was signed and that Moscow had informed Pyongyang last year that it would not be extending the treaty this year when the five-year extension signed September 10. 1991_runs out.

The new treaty proposed by Russia removes references to a commitment as an ally to come to the defence of North Korea if it suffers aggression.

Panov said Russia was waiting for North Korea to respond to its new draft treaty. " So far the Russian party has received no answer, but we hope to receive it soon." he said.

Panov described Russia's relationship with South Korea as good.