The United Nations Security Council started holding an emergency meeting on Sunday at Russia's request to address mounting tensions on the Korean peninsula.
The UN Security Council meeting, held behind closed doors, will discuss a Russian draft statement calling on both North and South Korea to refrain from the escalation of the conflict.
The representatives of North and South Korea have not been invited to attend the meeting.
Russia's envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin reiterated on Sunday that Russia was seriously concerned over further escalation between the two Koreas because the current situation in the region "directly affects the national security interests of the Russian Federation."
"We believe that the Security Council must send a restraining signal to the Republic of Korea [South Korea] and DPRK [North Korea], and help launch diplomatic activity with a view to resolving all issues of dispute between the two Korean sides by political and diplomatic means," Churkin said.
Tensions on the Korean peninsula are high since Seoul unveiled plans to hold exercises on Yeonpyeong Island on December 18-21. Pyongyang blasted the move saying its response would be "deadlier" than the shelling in November that killed four South Koreans on the island.
South Korea has postponed the drills until Monday citing poor weather conditions, but vowed to proceed with the planned exercises despite threats from Pyongyang and calls for restraint from Russia and China.
NEW YORK, December 19 (RIA Novosti)
