Russia Bemoans US ‘Boundless’ Emphasis On New N. Korea Sanctions

2947080 09/30/2016 Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Ryabkov during the signing of the Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Nicaragua on No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space ... 2947080 09/30/2016 Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Ryabkov during the signing of the Joint Declaration of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Nicaragua on No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space with Deputy Foreign Minister of Nicaragua Luis Alberto Molina. Mikhail Voskresenskiy/Sputnik via AP MORE LESS
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MOSCOW (AP) — A senior Russian diplomat is warning against expanding sanctions against North Korea, saying it’s necessary to focus on a political settlement.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that “the scope of sanctions already endorsed by the U.N. Security Council is such that any possibilities of expanding such measures have been exhausted.”

In remarks to the Japanese and Chinese media released by the ministry on Wednesday, he bemoaned Washington’s “absolute and boundless” emphasis on developing new sanctions against Pyongyang.

Ryabkov said the U.N. Security Council must now focus on a political settlement.

China and Russia have called on the U.S. to suspend annual military exercises with South Korea in exchange for Pyongyang halting its missile and nuclear tests as a first step toward direct talks.

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