Russia urges North Korea to cooperate with UN

MOSCOW - Russia called on North Korea Monday to cooperate with the UN and destroy its stockpile of nuclear weapons.

The Communist country had to abide by UN Security Council resolutions passed after the north conducted nuclear tests, a statement released by the foreign ministry said.

Moscow also criticised the North Korean artillery bombardment of a South Korean island in November, which killed four people, according to the statement, issued after talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his North Korean counterpart Pak Ui Chun.

Lavrov said he was deeply concerned at the recent revelations of a North Korean uranium enrichment facility in Yongbyon, calling for the resumption of six-party talks on the north’s nuclear programme.

He appealed to all parties in the Korea conflict to exercise restraint in order to avoid an escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.