Russia Rejects US Request to Cut Ties with North Korea

Russia has rejected the United States' request to sever ties with North Korea due to the country's new missile test, accusing Washington of 'provoking' North Korea. According to a report by AFP on Thursday (December 9), following North Korea's latest missile test, which officials claim can target the United States, the US called on all countries worldwide to cut diplomatic and commercial relations with Pyongyang. In response to this request, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov opposed the US demand during a press conference in Belarus, calling it 'negative.' Lavrov reiterated recent statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that Moscow has repeatedly said that increasing pressure through sanctions has lost its effectiveness. He accused the US of trying to provoke North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and stated that Americans should clarify their objectives regarding North Korea, and if they intend to destroy this isolated country, its leaders should announce this directly. The senior Russian diplomat explicitly added that he believes recent statements by US officials are aimed at provoking Kim Jong-un into extreme actions. He cited the US plan to conduct a large air exercise with South Korea in December as an example and urged Washington to engage in negotiations instead of such 'provocative' actions. Following North Korea's latest missile test, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned during an emergency Security Council meeting on Wednesday, December 8, that if a potential war occurs, the North Korean regime will be completely destroyed. According to Reuters, the US ambassador stated in her speech at the emergency Security Council meeting: 'If war occurs, do not be mistaken, the North Korean regime will be completely destroyed.' The Kremlin also described North Korea's new missile test as a provocative reaction and called on all parties involved to maintain calm. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's ambassador to the UN, also urged North Korea to stop its missile and nuclear tests. He also asked the US and South Korea to refrain from holding their joint military exercises in December due to the regional situation. According to Reuters, the intercontinental missile tested by North Korea on Wednesday reached an altitude of approximately 4,475 kilometers and traveled a distance of 960 kilometers in 53 minutes. The North Korean government stated in a statement that this missile 'has access to the entire territory of the United States' and 'is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.' US President Donald Trump, during his visit to China, stated that there is no longer time to come to terms with North Korea. Verbal tensions between US and North Korean leaders have significantly increased in recent months. Previously, North Korea described Trump's Asian trip as 'militaristic' and attributed it as a factor accelerating Pyongyang's nuclear program.