Russia And Japan Want Serious Response To N. Korea
Military officers celebrate the second successful nuclear test at the Pyongyang Indoor Stadium on May 26
May 30, 2009
MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso have agreed on the need for a serious response to this week's nuclear test by North Korea, the Kremlin said on May 30.
The two leaders had a telephone conversation about North Korea's nuclear explosion, short-range missile launches, and declarations about resumption of its nuclear program, it said in a statement.
"The parties shared the view that there is a need to most seriously respond to these steps, representing a challenge to the international security system," the statement said.
They said they would coordinate on proposals to be included in a new UN resolution, it added.
On May 28, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Russia did not object to a UN Security Council resolution on North Korea's nuclear test this week, but believed it was too early to talk about possible penalties.