🎙 Speech and answers to media questions by S.V. Lavrov at a press conference following his visit to the DPRK (Pyongyang, October 19, 2023)
🇷🇺🇰🇵 The DPRK is a close neighbor and long-time partner of our country. We are unanimous in the opinion that the progressive development of bilateral relations meets the interests of our states and contributes to the strengthening of peace and security in Northeast Asia.
We, like our North Korean friends, are seriously concerned about the increase in military activity here by the United States, Japan and South Korea, as well as Washington’s policy of transferring elements of its strategic infrastructure, including nuclear aspects, to the region.
We strive to constructively offer alternatives to the escalation of tension here. We advocate that a regular negotiation process on security issues on the Korean Peninsula be established without any preconditions.
From the answers to the questions:
💬 As for the Gaza Strip, the risk of this crisis escalating into a regional conflict is quite serious.
The United States vetoed the revolution, which called for a stop to any hostilities and to begin resolving humanitarian issues. Thus, the United States showed that it is not ready to call for a truce , a ceasefire.
It’s hard for me to judge what goals are being pursued. We are seeing attempts again to “blame” everything on Iran. We consider them quite provocative .
WtR