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Russian, Chinese foreign ministers call for avoiding escalation in Korean Peninsula

Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi criticized Pyongyang for holding its fifth nuclear test
People watching a TV news program reporting North Korea's nuclear test AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon
People watching a TV news program reporting North Korea's nuclear test
© AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

MOSCOW, September 12. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi have held a telephone conversation to agree to coordinate positions regarding the settlement of the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear problem.

"The two sides exchanged opinion on the situation in the Korean Peninsula in the light of the DPRK’s recent nuclear test," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The two foreign ministers criticized Pyongyang for its actions and underscored the importance for all parties concerned to refrain from steps capable of leading to further escalation of tensions. They reaffirmed Russia’s and China’s commitment to the political and diplomatic settlement of the Korean Peninsula. Lavrov and Wang agreed to go ahead with coordination of Russia’s and China’s positions on this issue," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

North Korea on September 9 held a fifth nuclear test. Pyongyang said it confirmed that the nuclear warhead could be installed on the country’s ballistic missiles. The South Korean Defense Ministry has said that it is the most powerful nuclear device North Korea has tested so far. Its yield is estimated at about 10 kilotonnes. Before North Korea carried out four nuclear tests - in 2006, 2009, 2013 and January 2016.