Russia understands the position of North Korea, according to which the anti-missile shield is the basis for ensuring its security. He also believes that the issue of the country's nuclear disarmament is closed. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, quoted by "Interfax".
"We understand the principled position of our Korean friends that the basis for guaranteeing our own independence and security is an anti-missile shield and other self-defense measures,'' Lavrov was quoted as saying in response to a media question on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.< /p>
"The American-South Korean alliance is now openly called, by analogy with NATO, a "nuclear alliance", which is clearly turning into a triple bloc with the participation of Japan, which demonstratively took a course of remilitarization. This is a real and extremely serious threat to regional security, even the term "denuclearization" as far as the DPRK is concerned, it's over for us," the minister said.
North Korea has enough plutonium and uranium to produce at least 90 nuclear weapons, a South Korean lawmaker said Thursday.
Seoul also sees the prospect of North Korea potentially conducting a seventh nuclear test after the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election, said Lee Seong-kuen, who sits on the Parliamentary Intelligence Committee.
In July, a report by the Federation of American Scientists concluded that Pyongyang may have produced enough material to build up to 90 nuclear warheads, but probably has amassed closer to 50.
Lee said it was rare for North Korea's state media to report on leader Kim Jong Un's visit to a uranium enrichment facility, suggesting the report released earlier this month was likely intended to send a message to Washington before the US presidential election.
Lee, who spoke to reporters after being briefed by South Korea's National Intelligence Service, also said the report on the visit could be for domestic purposes.
Pyongyang often touts the weapons as a matter of national prestige and proof of the country's power.
North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) - the country's parliament - is due to convene a new session on October 7 in Pyongyang.
During the session, the North could amend its constitution and take follow-up measures to draw new borders with the South, Lee said.
In January, leader Kim called for a constitutional amendment to view South Korea as a "main enemy".