PYONGYANG, January 18. /TASS/. The charges North Korea has allegedly obtained Russian missile defense technologies are an attempt by the United States to find a pretext for imposing more sanctions on Pyongyang, Russia’s ambassador in Pyongyang, Alexander Matsegora, told TASS in an interview on Friday.

"Washington is feverishly looking for another pretext for continuing and stepping up the pressure of sanctions on North Korea. The Americans’ allegations North Korea has obtained new mobile-based missile interceptors may well turn out one of such excuses," Matsegora said.

The United States’ claims North Korea has obtained Russian missile defense technologies are an attempt by the United States to discredit Russia in the UN Security Council and on the non-proliferation platform, he said.

"The charges against Russia are aimed at discrediting us on the platform of non-proliferation of missile technologies and in the UN Security Council, where we keep pressing for gradual easing of sanctions against North Korea in response to the measures that country’s leadership has been taking for the sake of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and easing tensions in the region," Matsegora said.

Earlier, the United States claimed in its 2019 missile defense review that "North Korea has acquired Russian missile defense technology and is developing its own mobile missile defense capabilities, specifically, a mobile air and missile defense system."

"While indigenously produced, its interceptors and radar system share similarities with Russian systems," the review said.