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Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Kremlin warns against severing ties with North Korea

On November 29, North Korea conducted a missile launch after a 75-day pause

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MINSK, November 30. /TASS/. It would be unconstructive to completely sever ties with North Korea, as it will not help resolve the situation surrounding the country, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"You know, to sever ties with [North] Korea would be the easiest thing to do. The question is what we will do to resolve the issue. We believe that we should pool our efforts to find an answer to this question," he said, commenting on US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley’s statement in which she called on all states to sever ties with North Korea and suspend Pyongyang’s voting rights at the UN. 0-bea

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North Korea’s new missile launch, US response

In the morning of November 29, North Korea conducted a missile launch, the first since September 15.

North Korea’s Central News Agency (KCNA) said that the Hwasong-15 missile had covered a distance of 950 kilometers during its 53-minute flight, reaching an altitude of 4,475 kilometers. According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, the missile plunged into the sea in Japan's exclusive economic zone, 250 kilometers west off the coast of Japan’s Aomori Prefecture.

Following the missile launch, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley called on all countries to sever ties with North Korea. "In addition to fully implementing all UN sanctions, all countries should sever diplomatic relations with North Korea and limit military, scientific, technical, or commercial cooperation," she said. "They must also cut off trade with the regime by stopping all imports and exports, and expel all North Korean workers," Haley added, also calling for suspending Pyongyang’s voting rights at the United Nations.

US President Donald Trump earlier threatened to respond with "fire and fury" if North Korea attempted to carry out a missile attack on the United States or its allies.

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Foreign policy Situation on the Korean Peninsula

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