Russia Urges US, DPRK to Defuse Tensions on Korean Peninsula

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 09, 2003

Russia Urges US, DPRK to Defuse Tensions on Korean Peninsula

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Russia is urging the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to take urgent steps to defuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said Tuesday.

"The United States and North Korea (DPRK) took no steps lately to narrow the differences and mutual mistrust has been growing. The situation has approached a point where any careless step is fraught with a landslide conflict," Losyukov said in an interview with Itar-Tass.

He was commenting on a debate on the DPRK's nuclear program at the UN Security Council scheduled for Wednesday.

The crisis on the Korean Peninsula flared up last October when Washington said the DPRK had admitted to running a secret nuclear program in breach of a 1994 bilateral accord.

Since then the US has suspended fuel deliveries to the DPRK, the DPRK has kicked out international inspectors, pulled out of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and fired up a reactor at itsYongbyon nuclear plant.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula is "exclusively dangerous," Losyukov warned.

"It is necessary first and foremost to clear up relations between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in order to remove all apprehensions," he said.

Russia has been trying to arrange direct talks between the DPRKand the United States, but Washington has rejected such negotiations, arguing that an agreement must be reached jointly byall regional powers.

A Russian diplomatic source doubted Tuesday that the UN Security Council's Wednesday session on the DPRK's nuclear programcould make any decision.

"The session...will be held in the form of consultations," the source was quoted by Interfax as saying.

"It is unlikely that any official documents, including a statement from the UN Security Council chairman will be adopted," the source noted.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Moscow Says Seoul Should Urge US to Begin Direct Talks with DPRK

Pyongyang Accuses US of Abusing UN Meeting

DPRK to Fight to the End with US if at War: Official

Chinese Health Groups Update Efforts against SARS ( 6 Messages)

HK Star Leslie Cheung Commits Suicide ( 14 Messages)

Iraq Says It Launches 37 Missiles on Coalition Troops ( 3 Messages)

China Releases US Human Rights Record in 2002 ( 6 Messages)

Seek Hegemony under the Cloak of 'Democracy': Commentary ( 27 Messages)