Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on Friday to discuss tensions between the two Koreas following the Cheonan warship sinking.
The 1,200-ton South Korean Cheonan corvette sank near the disputed Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea on March 26, causing the loss of 46 lives. An international investigation concluded the explosion, which broke the ship into two pieces, was caused by a North Korean torpedo fired from a submarine. Pyongyang has denied its involvement.
During the visit, Lavrov will also meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and State Councilor Dai Bingguo.
Iran's nuclear program, cooperation in Afghanistan and preparations for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit will also be discussed during Lavrov's visit.
The Russian foreign minister earlier described situation on the Korean Peninsula as "really explosive."
Following the report by a team of independent investigators, South Korea froze economic relations and maritime communications with its northern neighbor, further crippling the North's economy, which is already damaged by UN sanctions intended to force it to quit its nuclear program.
North Korea retaliated by announcing it was cutting all ties with Seoul and allegedly ordered its 1.2-million armed forces to get ready for combat. It later announced the withdrawal of all its military safeguards in relations with the South and said it would scrap an agreement between the two countries aimed at preventing clashes off the west coast.
According to diplomatic sources in the UN, China's opposition to new sanctions against the reclusive and unpredictable Communist regime keeps in check Seoul's desire to further punish the North.
MOSCOW, June 4 (RIA Novosti)
