Russia rejects US criticism over North Korea ICBM test

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) - Moscow on Monday voiced “great concern” about latest developments on the Korean peninsula, urging all sides to “refrain from any steps that could lead to further … tension”.

The Russian Foreign Ministry statement followed last week’s testing by North Korea of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Friday’s test was the latest step by Pyongyang in developing a weapon capable of striking the U.S.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Friday strongly condemned North Korea's launch, saying: "As the principal economic enablers of North Korea’s nuclear weapon and ballistic missile development program, China and Russia bear unique and special responsibility for this growing threat to regional and global stability."

However, the Russian ministry rejected "untenable" U.S. attempts to shift responsibility for the situation on the peninsula to Russia and China.

"In this context, we would like to recall that it was Russia and China that developed a joint road map that excludes the use or threat of force and involves a comprehensive solution to all the problems of the Korean peninsula," Moscow added.