TOKYO (Sputnik) — South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a meeting in Seoul on Monday with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, during which the sides discussed possible retaliatory measures amid North Korean latest nuclear test.
"The South Korean and Russian sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the security sphere, including a response to the nuclear provocations of the DPRK, as well as ways to expand bilateral relations, in particular, preparations for the summit of [the leaders of] Russia and South Korea, which will be held September 6 in Vladivostok," according to a press release on the South Korean presidential administration's website.
After the negotiations, the Russian Security Couincil said that the sides discussed the ways of political and diplomatic settlement of the nuclear problem of the Korean peninsula, and assessed the military-political situation in the Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, Patrushev and Chung Eui-yong also discussed prospects of trilateral economic projects involving Russia, South Korea and North Korea.
Moscow criticized the North Korean latest nuclear test, saying, however, that Russia doesn't consider Pyongyang a threat to its security yet.
In its turn, Seoul said it is considering "effective military responses" with the US to Pyongyang's move. Moreover, South Korea reportedly discusses the deployment of US strategic bombers in the country amid the escalation on the Korean Peninsula.
