Russia "concerned" by NKorea nuclear test plan

MOSCOW, Oct 3 (Reuters) Russia said today it was ''deeply concerned'' about North Korean plans to conduct its first nuclear test and urged Pyongyang to exercise restraint.

Pyongyang, which made its announcement earlier today, said it would never use atomic weapons first and remained commited to the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

''We believe that such a step would not conform with the declared aim of denuclearising Korea,'' a Foreign Ministry statement said.

''It would only lead to further aggravation of the military-political situation on the Korean peninsula and around it and to further erosion of the nuclear non-proliferation system,'' it added.

''Russia urges Pyongyang to exercise restraint and expresses the hope that North Korea can make a correct choice.'' Russia is a member of international efforts, also involving both Koreas, China, Japan and the United States, to persuade Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme. Six-way talks have been dormant since November.

''We treat with respect ... North Korean concerns about ensuring its own security, but believe that the solution of the problem should be in the framework of the six-party talks,'' the Russian statement said.

REUTERS SP BD2109