Russia Calls for Restraint Amid N Korea's Hydrogen Bomb Test

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The foreign ministers of Russia and South Korea, Sergei Lavrov and Yun Byung-se, discussed the North Korean nuclear issue over the phone Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"Serious concern was expressed over the DPRK's hydrogen bomb test announcement. The Russian side underlined the need to show restraint and avoid actions that could increase tensions in Northeast Asia. At the same time, the importance to urgently resume dialogue aimed at finding a political and diplomatic settlement of the current crisis was noted," the ministry said in a statement.

The talk was initiated by South Korea.

On January 6, Pyongyang claimed it had carried out its first hydrogen bomb test, which triggered condemnation from the international community that denounced the test as provocative and undermining stability in the region.

The UN Security Council at an emergency session condemned the nuclear test and announced it would begin work on further significant measures against North Korea in a new resolution.

North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005 and conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013, having earlier withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that it ratified in 1985.

South Korea and Russia, as well as the United States, China and Japan held denuclearization talks with North Korea for six years but they came to a halt in 2009, when Pyongyang left the negotiation process as its second nuclear test took place.