Russia says it is ready to work with Pyongyang to peacefully resolve the standoff over North Korea’s missile and nuclear-weapons programs.
The Russian Foreign Ministry made the comments in a September 29 statement following a meeting between Oleg Burmistrov, a Russian ambassador-at-large, and Choe Son Hui, director-general of the North American department at North Korea's Foreign Ministry.
"The Russian side confirmed that it is prepared for joint efforts in the interest of finding ways to resolve the current problems in the region through peaceful, political, and diplomatic means," the ministry said.
The ministry added that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov had also met with Choe.
Tensions have escalated recently over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, which have triggered increasingly charged rhetoric between Pyongyang and Washington.
Addressing the UN General Assembly on September 25, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho accused U.S. President Donald Trump of declaring war on his country and said Pyongyang had the right to shoot down U.S. bombers, even if the warplanes were not in North Korea's airspace.
Washington called the accusation "absurd" and warned Pyongyang to stop provocations.
After North Korea’s latest and most powerful nuclear test earlier this month, the UN Security Council approved new sanctions on the country.
