Russia, India and China voiced “regret” over North Korea's rocket launch on Friday but opposed new sanctions against Pyongyang and called for restraint from neighbouring countries and the U.N. Security Council.
“We regret the rocket launch undertaken contrary to persistent appeals not to do it from the international community, including our three countries,” said Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a joint press conference with his Indian and Chinese counterparts after their trilateral meeting. “But we do not believe in new sanctions — they will not help in any way to resolve the situation.”
Mr. Lavrov said Russia, India and China shared the same views on the North Korean launch. The Security Council should take a stand, but its reaction must be calibrated and serve the main goal — a resumption of the six-party talks, he said.
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“We are convinced it is necessary to respond to the challenges at hand exclusively through political and diplomatic means,” he said.
“We call on North Korea to avoid any steps that would escalate tension in the Korean Peninsula, but we also expect all countries in the region to show maximum restraint and responsibility.”