Russia says N.Korea's nuclear experiments threaten peace
10/09/200917:23
MOSCOW, September 10 (RIA Novosti) - North Korea's uranium enrichment experiments could further complicate the situation on the Korean Peninsula, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
The communist state quit international talks and announced the restart of its nuclear program after the UN Security Council condemned its April 5 long-range missile launch. The Security Council imposed tougher sanctions on the North after it conducted its second nuclear test in May.
Andrei Nesterenko said: "Russia's position on North Korea's nuclear experiments remains unchanged. They are inconsistent with Pyongyang's declared aim to denuclearize, and create a threat of further complications in the situation on the Korean peninsula and the surrounding region."
However, he stressed that the international dispute surrounding North Korea's nuclear program must be solved through diplomatic means.
"We relate with understanding to North Korea's security concerns, but it is our position that this problem must be solved through political-democratic means, not by escalating an arms race, especially a nuclear arms race," he said.
Pyongyang has in recent months maintained that it will only discuss its nuclear program with Washington.
Washington has been unresponsive to Pyongyang's request so far, demanding the North return to the international talks involving the two Koreas, Russia, China, Japan and the United States.
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