Russia offers to help cool tensions between the US and North Korea after Kim Jong-un condemns UN sanctions as an ‘act of war’
Pyongyang launched its latest verbal volley after a fresh set of economic measures were announced against the rogue state
RUSSIA has offered to help cool tensions between the US and North Korea after Kim Jong-un condemned UN sanctions as an “act of war”.
Pyongyang launched its latest verbal volley after a fresh set of economic measures were announced against the rogue state in the wake of its most recent missile launch.
The sanctions are aimed at further limiting Kim’s access to petrol, as well as cash from North Korean workers abroad.
But North Korea declared the UN steps to be an "act of war" amounting to a complete economic blockade.
The stand-off between the US and North Korea has raised fears of a new conflict on the Korean peninsula.
But the Kremlin yesterday said it was ready to act as a mediator between the two sides and urged them to the negotiating table.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "Russia's readiness to clear the way for de-escalation is obvious."
Asked to comment on the offer, US State Department spokesman Justin Higgins said Washington "has the ability to communicate with North Korea through a variety of diplomatic channels".
He added: "We want the North Korean regime to understand that there is a different path that it can choose.
"However it is up to North Korea to change course and return to credible negotiations."
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also criticised "Washington's aggressive rhetoric" in a phone call with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson yesterday.
He said the beefing up of America’s military presence in the region had heightened tension and was unacceptable, the Russian foreign ministry said.
Lavrov underscored the need for "the fastest move to the negotiating process from the language of sanctions", it added.
Another US State Department spokesman, Michael Cavey, said Washington remained open to talks.
But he said the onus was on North Korea to take sincere and meaningful actions toward denuclearisation and refrain from further provocations.
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