MOSCOW, September 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday he hopes North Korea will pay attention to international appeals to stop nuclear tests and launches.
Medvedev told participants of the Valdai discussion club that Russia, which boasts long-term relations with the communist state, is ready to make a contribution to North Korea's disarmament.
"We cannot turn a blind eye to developments [in North Korea] and cannot but think about what may happen if Korean long-range missiles get nuclear warheads," he said.
"North Korea is a difficult partner," he also said, adding that a global consolidated position on the North Korean nuclear problem was necessary.
The communist state quit international talks and announced the restart of its nuclear program after the UN Security Council condemned its April 5 long-range missile launch. The Security Council imposed tougher sanctions on the North after it conducted its second nuclear test in May.
Pyongyang has in recent months maintained that it will only discuss its nuclear program with Washington.
Washington has been unresponsive to Pyongyang's request so far, demanding the North return to international talks involving the two Koreas, Russia, China, Japan and the United States.
