(RIA Novosti) - Russia's defense minister Wednesday called on North Korea to exercise restraint in its plans to conduct a nuclear test, adding that the tests could damage the Russian environment, reports Trend.
"I am counting on the North Korean leadership to demonstrate restraint, caution and responsibility on this issue," Sergei Ivanov told journalists at Russia's Kant airbase in Kyrgyzstan. "[Nuclear] tests could inflict ecological damage on Russia."
Ivanov, who is also a deputy prime minister, said Moscow is concerned by North Korea's non-adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, adding that the so-called "nuclear club" - Russia, the United States, China, France and the United Kingdom - should not include new members.
North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003, and in February 2005 announced it had nuclear weapons, although the statement is disputed by experts.
"We oppose the extension of the so called nuclear club," he said.
In early July, North Korea conducted test launches of ballistic missiles, including a long-range Taepodong-2. While the tests were a failure, many countries nevertheless interpreted them as an attempt to force the international community, especially the United States, to make concessions over the six-nation nuclear talks involving North and South Korea, Russia, China, Japan and the U.S.
The talks, aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its controversial nuclear program, opened in 2003, but stalled last November. Mediators proposed building a nuclear reactor for North Korea if it abandons its nuclear program, but Pyongyang said it wanted the reactor first and would then give up its nuclear research.
At the latest round of talks in September, North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear program in exchange for aid and security guarantees, but later refused to return to the negotiating table until Washington lifted financial sanctions imposed on Pyongyang for its alleged involvement in counterfeiting and other illegal activities.
Russia's foreign minister called on the United States and North Korea Wednesday to begin a dialogue to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem.
"A direct dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea would be the best and fastest way," Lavrov said in Strasbourg, after a meeting with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe chairman.