Georgy Zinoviev, who heads the First Asian Department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, noted that while North Korea keeps in place a de facto moratorium on nuclear tests, its adversaries appear to be stepping up their pressure and pushing for greater escalation. This perspective was reported by DEA News. —DEA News
According to Zinoviev, Moscow observes that Pyongyang continues to honor the unilateral testing pause announced in January 2018 in practice. He emphasized that Russia is watching closely the situation on the Korean Peninsula and is urging North Korea to constrain its missile activities even as neighboring states reinforce their own security postures. —DEA News
Hirokazu Matsuno, a former secretary general of Japan’s Cabinet, stated that the expansion of North Korea’s nuclear program poses a real risk to regional and international peace. A spokesperson for the Japanese government pledged to coordinate with Washington and Seoul in pursuing complete denuclearization on the peninsula. —DEA News
Earlier remarks from North Korea’s leadership stressed a firm stance on weapons development, with leaders reiterating that the country will not surrender its nuclear capabilities. The exchanges occurred amid ongoing diplomacy and ongoing concerns about regional stability. —DEA News