Russia warns North Korea against missile test

Moscow, June 23 (UNI) Russia has warned North Korea over reports about its plans to test launch a ballistic missile.

''North Korean Ambassador Pak Ui Chun was called to the Russian Foreign Ministry yesterday,'' the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement stressing Moscow informed the ambassador that the move would have a negative impact on regional stability and it was undesirable.

''The ambassador was informed of the Russian position on reports to the effect that North Korea is planning to test-launch a long- range ballistic missile and told that it would have a negative effect on the regional stability and complicate,'' the statement said.

Reports about North Korea's alleged preparations for testing a ballistic missile that could reach Alaska first appeared in the United States and Japan. They were based on satellite images featuring a missile launcher and a cistern apparently with fuel. The two governments suspect North Korea of plans to test a missile.

At the last round of six-nation talks in September 2005, North Korea agreed to abandon its nuclear programme in exchange for aid and security guarantees, but later refused to rejoin the talks until Washington lifted financial sanctions imposed over its alleged involvement in counterfeiting and other illegal activities.

In early June, however, a Korean news agency reported that Pyongyang was inviting an American delegation to resume talks.

Meanwhile, officials in Russia played down media speculation today that North Korea's secretive leader Kim Jong-Il had entered the country.

Western media reported earlier in the day citing a South Korean newspaper that the 65-year-old communist leader's armoured train had crossed the Russian border. But the Russian Foreign Ministry neither confirmed nor denied categorically the press reports.

''We have no such information,'' the ministry's press service told RIA news agency.

UNI XC SK DB1842