MOSCOW, July 29. /TASS/. The decision by Washington and Seoul to deploy a US THAAD anti-ballistic missile system in South Korea can seriously damage the strategic security of Russia and China, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The ministry made the statement following the results of the fourth round of the Russian-Chinese dialog on security in Northeast Asia.

As the Russian Foreign Ministry said, during the consultations the parties discussed a wide range of issues related to security in the region, first of all, on the Korean peninsula, and came to the common conclusion that the regional situation had deteriorated noticeably lately.

"Mutual serious concern was voiced over the decision by the United States and the Republic of Korea to deploy the US THAAD system in the South of Korea," the statement said.

"Washington’s steps for the unilateral development of the strategic ABM system capabilities and their deployment in various regions of the world, including Northeast Asia now, adversely affect the international and regional strategic balance," the statement said.

As the Russian Foreign Ministry said, these actions by Washington and Seoul can seriously damage the strategic security of neighboring countries, including Russia and China, and will also complicate the situation on the Korean peninsula.

"Resolutely standing against these plans, the participants in the consultations discussed the possibility of closer coordination between the two countries in the wake of new unfavorable realities in the development of the situation," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Settling nuclear problem on Korean peninsula

"Both sides emphasized the importance of stepping up efforts in the interests of achieving nuclear settlement on the Korean peninsula by political and diplomatic means," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The sides reached the common understanding that the six-party negotiations are an optimal and sole format for achieving this goal. The conditions for making Korea nuclear-free require reducing the military and political tension on the peninsula, including the need to reduce the scope of military exercises held there, and building a climate of trust among the parties involved," the statement said.

Moscow and Beijing also spoke for the quickest resumption of the inter-Korean dialog, which "is the sole possible way for achieving reconciliation between the South and the North and improving the general climate on the Korean peninsula."

Russian-Chinese dialog on security in Northeast Asia

The fourth round of the Russian-Chinese dialog on security in Northeast Asia was held in Moscow on Thursday. The Russian delegation at the forum was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov while the Chinese delegation was led by Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyo.

The consultations were held with the participation of representatives and experts of the Russian and Chinese foreign ministries and other agencies concerned.