U.S. taking advantage of 'N.Korean threat' to set up missile outpost near Russian, Chinese borders - Russian senator
MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - The new North Korean missile launch shows that the policy of pressure on Pyongyang is flawed, Russian Federation Council first deputy defense and security committee head Franz Klintsevich said.
"The very fact of the launch timed in this case just before a G20 summit shows that the policy of pressure on Pyongyang is obviously flawed. Moreover, it's impossible not to see that this policy directly provokes North Korean leaders into counteractions, including and primarily military ones," Klintsevich told journalists on Tuesday.
The point of no return has not yet been passed, "but each such launch will certainly advance it," he said.
Washington should look for ways to normalize contacts with Pyongyang, Klintsevich said.
"However, there is the impression that such a scenario is not in the Americans' plans: they are pursuing a very intricate political game in this part of the world, which, in my opinion, is ultimately aimed at setting up a missile outpost on the peninsula under the guise of the North Korean threat, pointed at Russia and China," he said.
Russia is closely following the situation near its eastern borders, Klintsevich said.