Cool head should be kept in dealing with N. Korea problem, game too dangerous to demonstrate excessive emotion - Lavrov
DA NANG. Nov 8 (Interfax) - Russian Foreign Sergei Lavrov has described the exchange of threats between the United States and North Korea as "a dangerous game" and called for avoiding excessive emotion in dealing with the North Korea problem.
"We believe that the exchange of threats or even insults, which has happened on both sides, cannot do any good," Lavrov told the press in Da Nang, commenting on the latest remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump on North Korea.
"We are certain there is no alternative to a peaceful settlement and everyone should keep a cool head in dealing with this problem, there should be no excessive emotion, as the game is too dangerous," he said.
Lavrov recalled the statement the U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, made in summer. The Pentagon chief said that a military conflict on the Korean Peninsula would be catastrophic and claim tens of thousands of lives.
He also reminded the press of the Russian-Chinese initiative pertaining to the settlement on the Korean Peninsula. The initiative suggests "a double freeze" on North Korea's missile and nuclear tests, on one hand, and the military exercises of the United States and its allies, on the other hand.
Trump made a series of harsh statements on North Korea and its leadership during his Asian tour. While speaking in Seoul on Tuesday, he called North Korea "hell" and said "don't try us."