Lavrov: US, S. Korea Japan military activity worries Pyongyang, Moscow

Moscow, Oct 19 (EFE).- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that the intensification of military activity by the United States, South Korea and Japan in the area worries Moscow and Pyongyang.

“Like our North Korean friends, we are seriously concerned about the intensification of military activity by the US, Japan and South Korea, and Washington’s policy of transferring strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects, here,” Lavrov said in the North Korean capital, cited by official Russian news agency TASS.

The head of Russian diplomacy said Moscow opposes this “unconstructive and dangerous line with a policy that seeks to guarantee the reduction of tensions” and prevent its escalation.

“We pursue this course together with North Korea and China, and strive to constructively offer alternatives to escalating tensions,” he said.

Lavrov advocated the restoration of a “regular negotiation process on security issues on the Korean Peninsula without preconditions.”

The head of Russian diplomacy arrived Wednesday in the North Korean capital from Beijing, where he participated in the Belt and Road Forum.

This is Lavrov’s fourth visit to Pyongyang and comes after the summit held in September between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the creation of working groups to manage relations between both countries to “a new level” in all fields.

Although the details of that summit held in the Russian Far East have not been made public, Moscow said it provided space for military and space cooperation between the two countries.

The US said Friday that North Korea has sent to Russia by train and by ship more than 1,000 containers with military equipment and ammunition so they can be used in the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin responded that so far Western intelligence “has not presented any evidence” about the possible delivery of North Korean weapons to Russia. EFE

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