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Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Russian, Chinese foreign ministers discuss situation on Korean Peninsula

MOSCOW, August 15. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have held a telephone conversation in which they shared opinions on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on its web site on Tuesday.

"China and Russia are working in close coordination on the peninsula’s nuclear problem, demonstrating a high level of Chinese-Russian strategic cooperation," the statement says.

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The Russian and Chinese foreign ministers have noted the growing importance of discussion of the two countries’ joint initiatives on the Korean Peninsula in the UN Security Council and through bilateral channels, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.

"Ways to overcome the swirling confrontation on the Korean Peninsula were discussed during the conversation," the Russian ministry noted. "The inadmissibility of military gambles and threats of force, no matter where they come from, has been confirmed. The attempts to solve the region’s problems by force are inacceptable."

The ministers also "stressed the absence of alternatives for a political and diplomatic settlement and the need for all parties involved to move towards establishing a dialogue on the complex solution of the Korean Peninsula problems with the support of the global community." "In light of this, Lavrov and Wang Yi noted the growing importance of efforts to advance Russian-Chinese peace initiatives through bilateral channels and in the UN Security Council," the Russian Foreign Ministry added.

North Korea carried out two test-firings of ballistic missiles in July, provoking sharp reaction from the US, Japan and South Korea. In particular, Trump said last week that North Korea should not threaten Washington and promised to unleash "fire and fury like the world has never seen." The Korean Central News Agency reported later that North Korea was developing a plan to launch missiles in Guam’s direction in order to show the possibility of making a preventive strike over the US military facilities, including the Andersen Air Force Base, where B-52 strategic bombers are located.

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