A Russian envoy to the United Nations on Wednesday called for restraint over the Korean Peninsula nuclear crisis following the launch of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
"It is essential to take a step back and carefully weigh the consequences of each move, to revise the policy of mutual threat and intimidation because this policy only leads to consequences or goal that are opposite to those that are sought after," Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, told the Security Council.
Over the past two and a half months, the United States and its allies seem to have tried the patience of Pyongyang with their activities, including unplanned and undeclared military maneuvers, or unilateral sanctions, he said.
The hostile moves force the DPRK to question the sincerity of Washington to seek a peaceful settlement, he said, adding that a comprehensive settlement will be difficult if Pyongyang feels that its security is threatened.
He asked the parties not to provoke each other but to show restraint and not allow moves that would escalate the tension.
It is clear that there is no military solution to the problems on the Korean Peninsula, he said.
Sanctions against Pyongyang are an instrument aimed at involving it in constructive negotiations and should not be used to strangle the DPRK economically or to intentionally worsen the humanitarian situation in the country, said Nebenzia.
Unless the states in the region show their readiness to pay due attention to the political components of the resolutions containing sanctions, the situation will continue to deteriorate and move in a vicious circle, he said.
"A search for a long-term solution can only be done through tireless and active diplomatic efforts. We call on all sides to immediately begin work on finding a formula for political and diplomatic settlement. We don't see any rational alternative to this path," he said.
The Russian envoy condemned the latest launch of a new type of ballistic missile by the DPRK.
The latest launch is a cause for deep disappointment. Open disregard of the DPRK of the demands of the resolutions of the Security Council and norms of international law justifies the strongest condemnation, he said.
Russia does not accept DPRK's goal of acquiring the status of nuclear power and has supported all Security Council resolutions demanding an end to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, he said.
The DPRK's Korean Central Television reported that the country successfully test-fired a newly developed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile early Wednesday morning, a move that has drawn condemnation from the international community.
