Top diplomat says Russia strongly opposes use of military force on Korean Peninsula

MOSCOW, April 26. /TASS/. The use of military force on the Korean Peninsula is fraught with disastrous consequences for the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS-2017). "The deteriorating situation on the Korean Peninsula causes concern as Pyongyang continues to develop its nuclear and missile programs while the United States and its regional allies step up military activities citing the North Korean threat," the Russian top diplomat said. According to Lavrov, "the deployment of the US THAAD missile defense system to South Korea may further destabilize the situation." "We share the global community’s consolidated position on North Korea’s policy, however, there is no doubt that plans to use military force, which are starting to be voiced, are fraught with disastrous consequences for the Korean Peninsula and the entire Northeast Asia," the Russian top diplomat added. "Russia is interested in ensuring security and stability in the Asian-Pacific region," Lavrov stressed. "In order to reach this goal, all countries of the region should abide by the generally recognized behavior rules, particularly respecting international law, solving disputes peacefully and refraining from the use of military force as well as the threat of force," the Russian foreign minister said. Read more