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Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Moscow condemns North Korean nuclear tests, but another round of sanctions will not help

The Russian Foreign Ministry believes the actions of North Korea are "provocative and defiant"

North Korean soldiers AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

North Korean soldiers

© AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

MOSCOW, September 23. /TASS/. Moscow has resolutely condemned the nuclear tests conducted by North Korea but doesn’t consider the imposition of sanctions against Pyongyang to be a universal solution, the Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Mikhail Ulyanov said on Friday.

TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA

According to him, the situation on the Korean Peninsula raises a very strong concern. "We condemn such actions. We believe they are provocative and defiant," the Russian diplomat stated.

"We have supported imposing another round of sanctions several months ago. Now the possibility of additional sanction measures is under consideration," Ulyanov noted.

"At the same time, we should take into account that sanctions are not a universal solution. It is a most extreme measure but it is not always effective," the Russian diplomat pointed out. "If the target of sanctions is the political elite then sanctions won’t work." In his opinion, Pyongyang "has enough political will to counter the pressure of sanctions."

Ulyanov also said that "not the country’s leadership responsible for specific actions is suffering from sanctions in the first place" but the ordinary people, so the pressure of sanctions should be supported by political and diplomatic efforts. Russia, in his words, regularly draws attention to the fact that there is a need to seek a meaningful solution through negotiations but "doesn’t receive positive response from other countries, first and foremost those that have taken part in the talks on Korean Peninsula, excluding China."

On September 9, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test. As Pyongyang announced, "it has confirmed that the country’s military is capable of mounting a nuclear warhead on a ballistic missile." According to the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, this has been the most powerful missile tested in North Korea so far, its explosive yield was estimated at 10 kilotons.

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