Moscow, Seoul concerned by N. Korean rocket launch
MOSCOW. Dec 14 (Interfax) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and the head of the South Korean delegation at the six-party talks on the North Korea nuclear problem shared concerns about North Korea's ballistic rocket launch at a meeting in Seoul.
"The parties expressed serious concerns about Pyongyang's actions in violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and contrary to Russia's, the Republic of Korea's and other international community members' opinions," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
At the same time, both diplomats "expressed mutual willingness to continue efforts toward preventing the further escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula and ensuring conditions for maintaining and strengthening peace, security and stability in the region."
Morgulov also held consultations with South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Kim Kyou-hyun in Seoul on December 12-14 as part of a Russian-South Korean plan of inter-ministerial exchanges for 2012-2013.
"During the meeting, the two discussed key aspects of bilateral political, trade-economic, and humanitarian cooperation and reaffirmed their mutual willingness to continue contacts to further improve efficiency of Russian-South Korean ties in practical areas," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.