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Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Senator lambasts Washington’s plans to impose control over Russian ports

The US has approved a bill which envisages control over foreign vessels that have stayed in North Korea’s national sea over the past 365 days

© AP Photo/Bullit Marquez

MOSCOW, May 5. /TASS/. The bill on tightening sanctions against North Korea passed by the US Congress, which envisages control over Russian ports, is absurd. By doing so, the United States just wants to draw attention to itself, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s Defense and Security Committee, Viktor Ozerov, said in an interview with TASS.

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"This is a crazy idea. Russia will not allow this to happen. It’s an absurd idea, which does not have the slightest chance of being implemented," Ozerov asserted. "They (such bills - TASS) have no other purposes than drawing attention to themselves. I believe there are enough sober-minded people in both the US Congress and the Senate who will say that in public and, all the more so, will not vote (for this bill)," Ozerov stated.

Concerning the implementation of the previous sanctions against North Korea, the senator noted that Russia complies with all agreements. "If we talk about complying with the sanctions imposed on North Korea, Russia voted for them in the Security Council, without which they would have been illegitimate. Besides, the Russian president issued a special decree, which says that all federal government agencies, enterprises and organizations should not only comply with these sanctions in terms of goods and supplies to North Korea but also bans transit of goods added to the UN list through our territory," the senator said.

He noted that the new US legislation should be taken in stride. "I believe the bill’s authors have drawn attention to themselves. I do not see any provisions that should be analyzed," Ozerov concluded.

The US House of Representatives approved a bill on Thursday to tighten sanctions against North Korea. It provides for control over foreign vessels that have stayed in North Korea’s national sea or airspace over the past 365 days. The document also allows for the control over the activities of a number of ports in China, Iran, Syria’s Latakia and Tartus ports along with the Russian ports of Nakhodka, Vanino and the Vladivostok sea port in terms of their compliance with the restrictions imposed on North Korea.

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Foreign policy Situation on the Korean Peninsula

Military operation in Ukraine

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Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Russian Embassy to Austria denied participation in ceremony at Nazi concentration camp

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Labor productivity requires a significant increase in all sectors of the economy, the President stressed

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Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

Dardanelles temporarily closed due to fire on board of dry cargo carrier

Rescue craft were promptly sent to the ship, fire extinguishing started, the crew was evacuated

Negative trends still on rise in US-China relations — top Chinese diplomat

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Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

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Iran calls on BRICS states to facilitate ceasefire in Gaza Strip

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

Positive trends in Russian economy become stronger — Putin

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The President undescored that Russia did not plan to produce absolutely everything domestically

Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Kiev troops may strike targets in Crimea with ATACMS missiles — newspaper

The goal "is to put more pressure on Crimea," The New York Times said

Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

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North Korea to take part in SPIEF — Embassy in Russia

The 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held on June 5-8, 2024