LOC14:23
11:23 GMT
MOSCOW, Aug 16 (KUNA) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday expressed opposition to enforcing further sanctions on North Korea.
There is no need to enforce new curbs on North Korea and Moscow is against plans intended to strangulate this nation's economy, Lavrov said at a news conference with his visiting Bolivian counterpart.
Lavrov expressed satisfaction at softening the rhetoric between Washington and Pyongyang and called for holding political negotiations to settle "the situation on the Korean peninsula."
Washington and Pyongyang have been engaged in fiery war of words heightening tensions and fueling fears that the two powers may eventually resort to launching military strikes and risk plunging the world into a devastating war.
On Iran, he urged Tehran to abstain from considering unilateral abrogation of the nuclear deal with the super powers and urged Washington to honor its obligations as stipulated by the accord.
He defended Iran's schemes to increasing spending on its missile program. (end)
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