05 July 2017•Update: 05 July 2017
By Diyar Guldogan
ANKARA
Moscow and Beijing on Wednesday will present a joint solution on the settlement of Korean Peninsula's problems to the UN Security Council, Russian Foreign Minister said.
"Today in New York, the UN Security Council will discuss the situation of the implementation of previous resolutions, and Russia and China will present their initiative in detail and will promote it," Sergey Lavrov said, according to Russia's official TASS news agency.
Lavrov's remarks came during a news conference with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit in Moscow, a day after North Korea tested a suspected mid-range ballistic missile.
The North has been repeatedly punished by the UN Security Council for carrying out rogue nuclear and missile tests. South Korea, by contrast, adheres to strict U.S. guidelines, including limiting its ballistic missile range to no more than 800 km (500 miles).
Pyongyang carried out around 30 ballistic missile tests last year and has tested five nuclear devices since 2006, according to Yonhap, South Korea's state news agency.
Lavrov said there is a need to find a political and diplomatic solution to the situation in the Korean Peninsula.
He added that denuclearization of the peninsula should not be used as "pretext" to try to change in North Korea.
China and Russia on Tuesday issued a joint statement calling the latest missile tests by North Korea unacceptable, during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow.
"Russia and China will closely coordinate their efforts in order to promote a comprehensive resolution to the Korean Peninsula’s problems, including that of the nuclear issue, for the sake of achieving a lasting peace and stability in Asia," the statement said.
