Putin reluctant to cut oil supply to N. Korea: Yonhap

By Lim Chang-won Posted : September 6, 2017, 17:11 Updated : September 6, 2017, 17:11

[Yonhap News Photo]


Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed a request from his South Korean counterpart Wednesday to cut off oil shipments to energy-starved North Korea as a way of punishing the communist state for its latest nuclear test and also forcing it out to the dialogue table.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in renewed his request for Russia's support in pushing for a fresh UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution in a bilateral summit with his Russian counterpart held in the Russian far eastern city of Vladivostok, according to Moon's chief press secretary Yoon Young-chan.

"President Moon said they must intensify the severity of UNSC sanctions at least to place North Korea on the track to dialogue," Yoon told a press briefing. "The president asked Russia to help, noting it was imperative to at least cut off oil supplies to North Korea this time."

Putin said his country also denounced North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons. "However, I am concerned cutting off oil supplies to North Korea may cause damage to people in hospitals or other ordinary citizens," the Russian president was quoted as saying.

(Yonhap)

 
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