30 December 2002 00:00
RUSSIAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IGOR IVANOV ANSWERS A QUESTION FROM RUSSIAN AND FOREIGN MEDIA REGARDING THE GROWTH OF TENSIONS AROUND THE KOREAN PENINSULA
2696-30-12-2002
Question: Igor Sergeyevich, what is the stand of Russia with regard to the continuing growth of tensions around the Korean Peninsula?
Answer: The principled stand of Russia on this issue is well known. We strongly favor a nuclear-free status for the Korean Peninsula and a continued inter-Korean dialogue. In this connection the latest decisions by Pyongyang to remove IAEA inspectors from the country and to prepare for the resumption of the uncontrolled work of its nuclear power complex cannot but cause regret. The DPRK has to strictly abide by all its appropriate international obligations.
The Russian side also regards the preservation and strict implementation of the 1994 Agreed Framework between the DPRK and the United States as important, and supports all the other international accords directed to ensuring the nuclear-free status of the peninsula. Achieving this goal is possible only via a constructive dialogue between all the concerned parties. Whereas aggressive rhetoric and threats, and even more so attempts to isolate the DPRK, can lead only to a further escalation of tensions, which does not meet the interests of regional and international security.
Russia is engaged in active consultations with the DPRK, China, Japan, the United States, the Republic of Korea and all the other partners and concerned parties so as to help restart the dialogue in the interests of a politico-diplomatic resolution of the situation.
December 30, 2002
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