Russia has denounced North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as a<\/b>
\nRussia has denounced North Korea’s nuclear ambitions as a \u00ab\u00a0direct threat\u00a0\u00bb to the country.
\u00ab\u00a0It is not only a ballistic missile defence system – it has real function, \u00a0\u00bb said Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.
\u00ab\u00a0That is why it is alarming. And it is a direct threat to Russia. We are convinced that it will increase the tensions of the region. That is our principle position.\u00a0\u00bb
Mr Fomin spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an international security conference in Singapore attended by defence ministers and experts from 39 countries, including US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis.
Russia borders North Korea and saw one of Pyongyang’s missiles land close to its waters. But it differs from the US and its allies on how to rein in the North’s rapidly escalating nuclear and ballistic missile program.
Backing fresh sanctions on North Korea, Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Vladimir Safronkov stressed in June that \u00ab\u00a0the choice here has to be made in favour of using diplomatic tools to the maximum extent possible\u00a0\u00bb.
But Mr Fomin had similar sentiments. \u00ab\u00a0Economical restrictions should be a kind of tool to invoke North Korea to a peaceful process of resolving the dispute and conflict, and not to once again deteriorate the economic solution in North Korea, \u00a0\u00bb he said.
Addressing the South China Sea conflict, Mr Fomin chose his words carefully. \u00ab\u00a0All states involved in territorial disagreements in the South China Sea need to adhere to the principle of the non-use of force, \u00a0\u00bb he said.
China – a Russian ally – has pitted itself against its smaller neighbours in claiming disputed islands, coral reefs and lagoons in the South China Sea.
AP<\/p>\n

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