Russia to press US for answers on missile shield in Europe

Moscow, Mar 6 (UNI) Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after talks with his visiting South Korean counterpart Song Min-soon, today said Moscow would continue to press for answers from the United States on its deployment of missile defence in Europe.

''We are discussing the issue with our American colleagues and are asking them for answers to our questions and concerns, which are completely justified,'' Mr Lavrov told mediapersons.

''Although meetings and briefings are being held on the issue, most of our questions have not received any clear answers,'' he added.

Ealier, opening the talks, Mr Lavrov said Russia hopes to reach concrete understanding with South Korea on further steps, to settle the nuclear problem of the Korean peninsula.

He said Russia and South Korea were jointly working on a broad range of economic and political issues, including an all-round settlement of the nuclear problem of the Korean peninsula.

''We expect to have a concrete conversation on all these issues and reach specific understanding on further steps,'' Mr Lavrov said.

He said he did not rule out that a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the six countries (Russia, North Korea, South Korea, China, US and Japan) involved in the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue may meet after the March round of the talks.

''There is an understanding that a meeting of Foreign Ministers is required to be held shortly after the March round. We are bearing such a possibility in mind,'' Mr Lavrov said.

UNI