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China, Russia concerned over US missile defense in S. Korea

TOKYO, April 29 (KUNA) -- China and Russia on Friday voiced "serious concern" over reports that the US planned to deploy a missile defense system in South Korea, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
"Relevant countries should respect the stance and legitimate concerns of China and Russia," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted as saying at a joint press briefing with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov after their talks in Beijing.
Washington and Seoul have been discussing the deployment of US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System (THAAD) in South Korea.
"China and Russia think the plan far exceeded the South Korea's actual defense needs, and would directly threaten the strategic security of the two countries," said Wang.
"The deployment will not help the current Korean nuclear issue, in fact, it will only intensify the already tense situation," the Chinese minister said.
Wang noted that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is highly dangerous. All parties should fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 2270, to rein in the nuclear missile development plan of North Korea, while remaining restrained and avoiding any action that may escalate the situation.
The resolution, approved unanimously on March 2, following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test on January 6 and the long-range rocket launch a month later, is the toughest-ever set of sanctions against the North.
Wang also called on all parties to strive to resume the six-party talks, a multilateral mechanism that aims to solve the Korean nuclear issue, which has been stalled since late 2008.
The denuclearization talks also involve North Korea, South Korea, the US and Japan.
Lavrov is in Beijing for the foreign ministers' meeting of the 26-nation Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia and for an official visit. Xinhua did not mention what Lavrov said. (end) mk.hm