Russia Rejects North Korea's Demand For Nuclear Status, Says Compliance to U.N. Resolutions Must First Be Fulfilled Before Right To Use Nuclear Energy Can Be Granted
Russia's top envoy to South Korea Alexander Timonin said Wednesday that Moscow is not supporting North Korea's bid for nuclear status and openly expressed opposition towards Pyongyang's nuclear program.
During the 25th anniversary celebration for the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and South Korea, Timonin said in his speech that Russia will not approve of North Korea's nuclear missiles and its nuclear program.
KBS World Radio reports Sept 24 Timonin noted that before North Korea can claim its right as a sovereign state to utilize nuclear energy, North Korea's Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un must first fulfill the promises his father made on Sept. 19, 2005 when he agreed in a Joint Statement to abort the country's nuclear program and ban the launching of long-range missiles in Pyongyang to comply with United Nations resolutions.
Timonin also emphasized that Russia has repeatedly informed North Korea during many diplomatic events about its opposition towards the latter's nuclear program.
Value Walk writes Sept. 27 that Russia is closely monitoring North Korea's nuclear activity. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday that Moscow has been "paying attention" to North Korea ever since it announced its plan to resume operations at the Yongbyon nuclear site.
"Russia expresses its concern regarding North Korea's continued pursuit of rocket launches and nuclear weapons production, activities that have been prohibited by U.N. Security Council resolutions," Zakharova said in an interview with Yonhap news.
Zakharova also pointed that Russia is calling out to all other countries concerned to "exercise restraint and responsibility" so that the situation may escalate no further.
Meanwhile, China is also pushing for the revival of multilateral talks involving China, Russia, the United States, Japan, South Korea and North Korea to discuss solutions to the nuclear issue in Korea.
"It is urgent for all the parties involved to reactivate the (2005) joint statement and make joint efforts to create conditions, reach consensus and pave the way for the resumption of the six-party talks," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said. "We urge all the parties involved to take responsible attitude and not to take any new actions that could cause the tensions on the Korean Peninsula and northeast Asia."
