XIAMEN /China/, September 3. /TASS/. The situation around North Korea was the focus of a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday.

"Vladimir Putin called on the international community not to give in to emotions and act in a calm and balanced manner. He also stressed that a comprehensive solution to the nuclear (issue) and other problems on the Korean Peninsula can be reached only through political and diplomatic means," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

"The leaders discussed North Korea’s nuclear test on September 3, which undermines the global non-proliferation regime, violates the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions and norms of international law, and creates a real threat to regional peace and stability," he said, adding that the two leaders agreed to continue dialogue on that subject at a meeting they are expected to have on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum in Russia’s Far Eastern city of Vladivostok on September 7.
According to Peskov, the Russian president spoke with the Japanese prime minister when he returned to his hotel after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Russian, Chinese leaders call for restraint

Peskov also said that situation around North Korea’s newest nuclear test was at the heart of talks between Russian and Chinese Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Both leaders called on other countries to show restraint, said Russian president’s press secretary.

"Both Putin and Xi expressed profound concern over this situation," Peskov noted. "They stressed the importance of efforts to prevent turmoil on the Korean Peninsula. They called on all the parties to show restraint and orient (themselves) towards searching for a solution only through political and diplomatic means," he stated.
"Putin and Xi spoke about the unacceptability of the Korean Peninsula’s nuclearization, while highlighting the necessity for denuclearization and sticking to the policy of concurrent actions between Russia and China on the international arena, including in the affairs of the Korean Peninsula," he said.

No plans to speak with Kim Jong-un

Vladimir Putin has no plans to have a telephone conversation with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, added Peskov.
"No, so far this sort of conversation has not been planned," he told journalists.

Russia ready to discuss situation with all countries

Moscow is ready to discuss a settlement to the North Korean situation with all countries but reiterates that the existing sanctions have yielded no result, Peskov highlighted.

"Naturally, the Russian side will be ready to take part in all relevant discussions (about measures to influence North Korea - TASS) within the United Nations Security Council and in other formats," he told journalists, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has repeatedly said that the only way to settle this problem is to discuss it with all parties concerned."

"As for concrete procedures, let us wait for these discussions and talks," he said when asked whether Moscow would support any further potential sanctions against North Korea. "So far, it can only be said that the existing sanctions have yielded no positive result. On the contrary, the situation still leaves much to be desired," Peskov stressed.
"I don’t think anyone knows for sure how to answer that question (of what can be done with North Korea)," he added.

He reminded that Russian President Vladimir Putin has once said that many countries, including the United States, "are indulging in this discussion remotely," as they are located thousands of miles away from the Korean Peninsula. "But, what is happening on the Korean Peninsula is happening in the direct proximity to the Russian border, so, we are no less concerned over developments there," the Kremlin spokesman stressed.
"Like others, and even more than others, we are interested in resolving this situation solely by political and diplomatic means," Peskov noted.

North Korea's nuclear tests

On Sunday, Pyongyang officially announced a successful hydrogen test launch that could be used as a warhead for an ICBM.

According to Japanese and South Korean seismologists, the man-made earthquake registered in North Korea was ten times as strong as a similar earth tremor in 2016 when Pyongyang conducted its fifth nuclear test. South Korea said the yield of the bomb could reach 100 kilotonnes.

The news sparked sharp reaction from the global community. Tokyo has already requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council while South Korea and the United States said they did not rule out a possible military response to North Korea’s actions.

Russia and China also condemned Pyongyang’s actions however the Russian foreign ministry called on all parties concerned to immediately return to the negotiating table since talks re the only possible way to reach an all-round settlement for the Korean Peninsula.