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Kremlin demands that Pyongyang give up nuclear missile program

According to Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin gets constant updates from Russian security services on the situation

NOVO-OGARYOVO, February 12 (Itar-Tass) - The nuclear test conducted by North Korea "deserves condemnation and adequate reaction on the part of the international community," aide to the head of the Russian state Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

"We demand that North Korea stop these illegal actions, fully give up its nuclear missile program, and return to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the IAEA regime of guarantees," he said.

According to Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin gets constant updates from Russian security services on the situation in connection with the new nuclear test by North Korea.

“Our country has traditionally good neighborly relations with North Korea, and bearing this in mind we sincerely regret that this country has conducted its third nuclear test,” he said. “We consider this step as a gross violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution.”

North Korea’s return to the non-proliferation treaty and the IAEA regime of guarantees will “help North Korea not only find a way out of the current situation, when the country is practically isolated from the rest of the world, but it will open doors for North Korea’s participation in international cooperation on the wide range of issues,” the presidential aide stressed.

“Russia and the other members of the six-party process will continue their active efforts to normalize the situation of the Korean Peninsula by political and diplomatic means,” he said.

“Russia will state its position” at a United Nations Security Council session dedicated the North Korean nuclear problem, he added.

On Tuesday morning, North Korea held its third nuclear test. The size of the seismic activity indicated a nuclear explosion at 6-7 kilotons. Russia’s Defence Ministry fixed the blast measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale 380 kilometers northeast of Pyongyang.

Pyongyang also carried out its nuclear tests in 2006 and in 2009.

Later on Tuesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) confirmed that North Korea had made a third underground nuclear test, which KCNA said was an act in retaliation for the US hostile politics. KCNA praised the success of the nuclear test which, in its opinion, would help ensure security on the Korean peninsula

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