"Russia is the closest to their nuclear test range (some 150 kilometers to the Russian border) and to the water area where North Korean missiles fall," Matsegora said, adding that there is a threat to Russia's security.
He said Moscow is aware which missiles and technology North Korea possesses, adding that Pyongyang does not notify Russia in advance of its plans to fire missiles or hold nuclear tests.
Russia's Role in US-North Korea Conflict
“We are ready to facilitate the settlement from the point of view of making proposals. We can say that the Russian-Chinese roadmap is a kind of such proposal for mediation,” Matsegora said.
'Double Freeze' Plan
He went on to add that the DPRK did not reject a roadmap on the Korean peninsula settlement proposed by Russia and China, but Pyongyang has its "own approaches, their own priorities, but they have not rejected our plan," according to Matsegora.
This peace initiative called "Double freeze" plan was proposed by Moscow and Beijing last July. It stipulates that Pyongyang stops nuclear tests and missile launches in exchange for Seoul and Washington abstaining from carrying out joint drills.
Ban on Oil Supplies to North Korea
Matsegora said that “North Korea is already experiencing an acute shortage of gasoline and diesel fuel, which leads to serious problems, including humanitarian ones. It should not be reduced further.”
"If oil and oil products supplies are ceased, this will mean a complete blockade of North Korea… Pyongyang’s official representatives have repeatedly stated that the blockade will be perceived by North Korea as a declaration of war with all the attendant consequences."
At the same time, the diplomat called the allegations that Russia provides its ports to North Korea for coal shipments "groundless," adding that the US authorities' information related to the issue have not been confirmed.
"However, whenever we checked this information, it was found out that the mentioned vessels did not enter our ports, and if they did, they were carrying cargoes or came for cargoes that had nothing to do with North Korea," Matsegora said.
On Monday, the US State Department said that Washington had warned Moscow of “the illicit North Korean coal trading through its ports.” US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that Russia was not complying with the UN Security Council's sanctions on North Korean exports of coal and there were no more excuses for these violations.
