Putin, Macron agree 'negotiations' the only way to resolve DPRK tensions

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron agreed in a phone call on Friday that resuming direct talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was the only way to resolve tensions over its nuclear program.

In a statement, the Kremlin said the two leaders "were united in the opinion that it was unacceptable to allow an escalation in tension."

The crisis needs to be resolved "exclusively through political and diplomatic means, by restarting direct negotiations," they reportedly said.

Buses transport nuclear weapon developers during a send-off following their stay in Pyongyang on September 12. /AFP Photo‍

Both Putin and Macron "decisively condemned the provocative" firing by the DPRK of a ballistic missile Friday over Japan and into the Pacific, the statement said.

The latest launch came days after the UN slapped new sanctions on Pyongyang following its sixth nuclear test earlier this month.

Russia backed the new sanctions against the DPRK on Monday, banning it from trading in textiles and restricting oil imports.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Friday also condemned the launch of another ballistic missile by the DPRK.

Members of the UN Security Council vote at a UN Security Council meeting over DPRK's new sanctions on September 11, 2017 at the UN Headquarters in New York. /AFP Photo

"This manifest violation of Security Council resolutions comes just days after the DPRK conducted its sixth nuclear test," Guterres was quoted by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric as saying.

"The Secretary-General calls on the DPRK leadership to cease further testing, comply with the relevant Security Council resolutions, and allow space to explore the resumption of sincere dialogue on denuclearization," said Dujarric in a statement.

Source(s): AFP ,Xinhua News Agency