Russia condemns North Korean latest missile launch

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Russia on Wednesday condemned the latest missile launch by North Korea, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"We condemn this launch and hope that all relevant parties will be able to remain calm that is very necessary to avoid worst-case scenario on the Korean Peninsula," Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia's official news agency TASS.

Peskov said the launch was a "provocative" act that provoked a further increase in tension around the peninsula.

Earlier, Pyongyang’s state-run KCNA news agency said the test involved a Hwasong-15, capable of carrying out a nuclear strike on "the whole mainland of the U.S."

The launch came after more than two months without a North Korean nuclear or missile test, but the country tested a pair of Hwasong-14s in July and it has repeatedly ignored global efforts to deter such "provocations" through sanctions.

However, Pyongyang insisted in Wednesday’s announcement that it will "make every possible effort to serve the noble purpose of defending peace and stability of the world".

North Korea often justifies its development of nuclear weapons as a measure aimed at countering alleged American aggression.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry also raised "serious" concern about North Korea's new missile launch that violated the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.

The ministry said in a statement that Russia urged North Korea to put an end to the tests and called on related parties not to provoke each other.

It added Russia's position regarding the settlement of the situation around the Korean Peninsula was "clear".

"In this context, we urge all parties to proceed without delay to implement the Russian roadmap for the Korean settlement. We do not see any reasonable alternative to it," it said.