North Korean nuke test drives six-nation negotiations into deadlock - expert
MOSCOW. Feb 12 (Interfax) - The North Korean nuclear tests have stalled attempts to settle the situation on the Korean Peninsula, which is hard as it is, State Duma International Affairs Committee First Deputy Chairman, political expert Vyacheslav Nikonov told Interfax on Tuesday.
"That's an impasse. Obviously, this test has political significance for the North Korean administration, which wishes to win the attention of Washington," Nikonov said.
It is possible that Pyongyang is seeking a political bargain with Washington, a swap of abandoned nuclear ambitions for security guarantees from the United States, the expert supposed.
"Probably, North Korea is eyeing this option, but Washington is not ready and not willing to raise the question," he said.
"The situation on the Korean Peninsula has been rather difficult already. It is upsetting that the tests are carried out on borders close to ours," Nikonov said.
The KCNA North Korean news agency reported the nuclear test earlier in the day.