Nuclear North Korea 'is threat to Russia'

A top Russian diplomat said today that North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme was a threat to Russia and warned Pyongyang not to carry out another atomic test.

In unusually strong language from Moscow, just days before the resumption of six-nation talks on curbing Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said a nuclear-armed North Korea was a threat to the population of Russia’s neighbouring Far East.

“It is in our interests that there be no nuclear arms on the Korean peninsula. Since one of the countries of the peninsula has become a nuclear power, this means that our interests are threatened,” Losyukov said.

“The population of the (Russian) Far East is worried at the rise of this nuclear threat right on their doorstep,” added Losyukov, who heads Russia’s delegation to the talks.

He said today that he did not expect any concrete results from six-nation talks scheduled for next week.

“I think that it is unlikely there will be any concrete or significant agreements resulting from these negotiations but we should be able to establish quite clearly the route to reaching them in subsequent meetings,” Losyukov said.

Losyukov also warned North Korea not to stage further nuclear tests, saying this would prompt a harsh international response.

He suggested agreeing to a “road map” – inspired by the international blueprint in the Middle East – setting out steps towards a settlement of the North Korean dispute.

The last round of six-nation arms talks in December – held in the wake of North Korea’s October nuclear test – failed to make any progress on getting Pyongyang to disarm. The next round involving China, Japan, Russia, the US and the two Koreas will be held on February 8.