Seoul: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
expressed concerns over North Korea`s nuclear weapons programs
as he arrived in Seoul for the G-20 Summit, a news report said
on Wednesday.
"North Korea`s nuclear ambition is creating political and
military tension in Northeast Asia and Russia`s eastern
region, which naturally makes us feel uneasy," South Korea`s
JoongAng Ilbo newspaper quoted Medvedev as saying in an
interview.
He also noted that North Korea`s nuclear test site
is only about 100 kilometers from Russian territory, it said.
North Korea carried out two nuclear tests in 2006 and in
2009 in the country`s northeastern area, drawing international
sanctions each time.
Just before the second test, North Korea walked out of
six-nation talks aimed at ending its nuclear programs. North
Korea has recently expressed its willingness to rejoin the
negotiations, which involve the two Koreas, the United States,
China, Russia and Japan.
Seoul and Washington have said North Korea must first
take specific moves to demonstrate its sincerity.
Medvedev reaffirmed his country`s commitment to a
diplomatic solution to end North Korea`s nuclear programs, the
newspaper said.
The Russian president was expected to discuss the nuclear
dispute as well as other regional and financial issues with
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak today ahead of a two-day
gathering of G-20 leaders, including President Barack Obama.
PTI
