Russia praises UN resolution taken on NKorea

Moscow, Oct 16: Russia's permanent ambassador at the UN Vitaly Churkin today praised the unanimously-approved Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea.

''The aim of a UN Security Council resolution approved yesterday is to make North Korea immediately reconsider its dangerous nuclear course, get back within the framework of the non-proliferation treaty and resume its participation in six-way talks without any preliminary conditions,'' Mr Churkin told Itar-Tass news agency.

He said the resolution, coordinated as a result of intense six-day negotiations, contained a thoroughly adjusted and targeted set of measures, which must be carried out under a strict and objective control by the UN Security Council and its sanctions committee, set up in the resolution.

Mr Churkin expressed hope that Pyongyang will adequately take the collective position of the world community, reflected in the resolution, and will make practical steps aimed at the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, as well as the strengthening of peace and stability in North East Asia.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister and Russia's top negotiator at the six-nation talks on North Korean nuclear problem, Mr Sergei Alexeyev has said Pyongyang does not intend to abandon the talks on its nuclear programme following the UN Security Council sanctions.

Mr Alexeyev made a brief stopover in Beijng en route from Pyongyang, where he held talks with North Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gae Gwan.

''During the talks, North Korea mentioned many times that the six-nation process must continue, the six-party talks have not been scrapped and that the goal of turning the Korean peninsula into a nuclear-free zone remains unchanged,'' Mr Alexyev told Interfax news agency.

''The final result of the consultations is positive,'' he noted.

''The North Korean side said on many occasions that it would not under any circumstances pass its nuclear capabilities over to other countries or use them against anyone,'' Mr Alexeyev added.

Pyongyang was prepared to discuss steps that could be taken to turn the Korean peninsula into a nuclear-free zone ''in a constructive spirit,'' he said.

UNI

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