11 August, 2017
Lavrov said after discussion with Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai that they agreed the United Nations should be the vehicle for a peaceful resolution of tensions over North Korea, which has been trading threats of war with the United States. You know our position-we will not accept a nuclear North Korea.
Asked at a forum for Russian students about the risks of the stand-off escalating into armed conflict, he said: "The risks are very high, especially taking into account the rhetoric". We hear direct threats to use force.
"If this double freezing finally takes place, then we can sit down and start from the very beginning - to sign a paper which will stress respect for the sovereignty of all those parties involved, including North Korea", Lavrov said.
"Of course, this concerns us very much", Lavrov said at a forum, adding that when it nearly comes to a fight "the first step away from danger should be taken by the stronger, smarter side".
"These new countries want to defend their interests by participating in the formation of the worldwide agenda, setting their own tonality, especially with regard to regions where corresponding centers of power are forming", Lavrov said adding that it goes about such countries as China, India, Brazil, South Africa. "We will keep hoping".
Lavrov issued a similar statement earlier this week when he met with North Korean officials. Moscow and Beijing called on Pyongyang to stop nuclear tests and urged Washington and Seoul to refrain from conducting joint drills. The combative rhetoric between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North Korean establishment stemmed from reports that Pyongyang had successfully managed to miniaturize a missile, and its stated ability to fire intermediate range nuclear missiles at Guam-a U.S. Pacific territory.
