Secretary of State John Kerry and his South Korean counterpart say North Korea will gain nothing by threatening tests of its missile or nuclear programs.

Secretary Of State John Kerry (L) and South Korean Foreign minister Yun Byung-Se (R) shake hands during a joint press conference
Secretary Of State John Kerry (L) and South Korean Foreign minister Yun Byung-Se (R) shake hands during a joint press conference (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
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Kerry says the U.S. and its Asian ally won't accept the North as a nuclear power. And he says its rhetoric is "unacceptable."

Kerry is making his first-ever visit to Seoul amid strong suspicion that North Korea may soon test a mid-range missile.

South Korea's foreign minister calls Pyongyang's threats a "grave provocation" to the entire international community.

Lavrov: Russia would back NKorea talks in Geneva

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says he would welcome a fresh round of talks on Swiss soil over North Korea's nuclear program.

Flanked by his Swiss counterpart, Lavrov said today that he would support renewed talks in Geneva if Pyongpang agreed to hold discussions with Russia, Japan, South Korea, the United States and China.

North Korea agreed in principle in 2005 to scrap its nuclear program including a presumed small stockpile of weapons in return for aid and diplomatic incentives from other members of the six-party talks.

But Pyongyang walked out of talks in 2009 and later conducted more nuclear tests.

Russia's top diplomat spoke after discussing North Korea, Syria and other issues with Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, whose nation also offered to mediate the crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

 

 


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