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Moscow trying to convince N. Korea to abandon nuclear tests

RIA Novosti

05/10/2006 15:20 WARSAW, October 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is trying to convince North Korea to abandon its possible nuclear tests, the foreign minister said Thursday.

Pyongyang announced Wednesday that it may soon resume nuclear tests.

"We are working directly with the government of North Korea to defuse the situation, to persuade North Korea to refrain from any steps that would escalate the situation," Sergei Lavrov said.

In early July, North Korea conducted test launches of ballistic missiles, including of a long-range Taepodong-2. While the tests were a failure, many countries nevertheless interpreted them as an attempt to force the international community, especially the United States, to make concessions over the six-nation nuclear talks, involving North and South Korea, Russia, China, Japan and the U.S.

On Wednesday, Sergei Ivanov, Russia's defense minister and a deputy prime minister, also urged North Korea to exercise restraint in its plans to conduct a nuclear test.

"I am counting on the North Korean leadership to demonstrate restraint, caution and responsibility on this issue," Ivanov said. "[Nuclear] tests could inflict ecological damage on Russia."

North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003 and in February 2005 announced it had nuclear weapons. Some experts, however, have questioned that claim.

The six nation talks, aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its controversial nuclear program, opened in 2003, but stalled last November. Mediators proposed building a nuclear reactor for North Korea if it abandoned its nuclear program, but Pyongyang said it wants the reactor first and will then give up its nuclear research.

At the latest round of talks in September, North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees, but later refused to return to the negotiating table until Washington lifts financial sanctions imposed on Pyongyang for its alleged involvement in counterfeiting and other illegal activities.