Russia criticized North Korea on Friday for its defiant rocket launch but said it opposes new sanctions against Pyongyang and joined China in calling for restraint from neighboring nations.
"We do not believe in new sanctions. They will not do anything in terms of resolving the situation," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with his Chinese and Indian counterparts.
He told a joint news conference that the UN Security Council must respond to the North Korean launch, which Russia and other nations say violated council sanctions.
But he suggested that trade restrictions or military threats would be counterproductive.
"We discussed the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the unsuccessful rocket launch," Lavrov said. "We are convinced that it is necessary to respond to the challenges at hand exclusively through political and diplomatic means."
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi expressed concern about the rocket and said Beijing hoped for "restrained actions by the corresponding sides with the aim of preserving stability on the peninsula."
The UN Security Council was to meet to discuss a possible condemnation of the launch. Opposition from veto-wielding permanent members China and Russia means new sanctions are highly unlikely. Russia had urged Pyongyang not to conduct the launch, warning it would violate a UN Security Council resolution regardless of its purpose and complicate efforts to revive six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear program.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.