Russian FM calls on US and DPRK to start talks

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called on Monday for the United States and DPRK to start negotiations, the RIA news agency reported.

Lavrov was cited as saying that Russia was ready to facilitate such negotiations.

Moscow has long called for Washington and Pyongyang to hold talks aimed at de-escalating tensions around the DPRK’s nuclear and missile program.

US President Donald Trump said that Washington hoped to receive more help from Russian President Vladimir Putin in efforts to convince the DPRK to abandon its missile and nuclear weapons program on December 15.

“The primary point was to talk about the DPRK because we would love to have his help on the DPRK. China’s helping, Russia’s not helping; we’d like to have Russia’s help,” Trump told reporters.

DPRK’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that the latest UN sanctions against the DPRK were an act of war and tantamount to a complete economic blockade against it.

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany July 7, 2017. /Reuters Photo

James Brown, a Russian expert focusing on energy politics at Temple University, believes the oil trade between Russia and Kim Jong-un’s hermit state could be an attempt to open up diplomatic channels, according to the Daily and Sunday Express.

He said: “The Russian authorities are generally against the US's policy of maximum pressure on the DPRK, believing that the policy has caused Pyongyang to accelerate their nuclear and missile program.

“Instead of further sanctions, Moscow favors immediate dialogue with the DPRK,” he added.

Deutsche Welle said that at a time when the United States is calling for more restrictions on fuel exports to DPRK, Russia may be attempting to avoid the total collapse of the regime in Pyongyang.

According to citizen journalists who report on events inside DPRK for the Osaka-based Asia Press International (API) news agency, fuel prices began to fall in November after several months of fluctuations.

Russian state media has also reported the Kremlin wants to take a lead role in pressuring the DPRK to imply with international sanctions.

(Top image: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a meeting with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and U.N. special envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura in Moscow, Russia December 21, 2017. /Reuters Photo)