Lavrov, Clinton discuss joint work due to N Korea nuclear test

Lavrov and Clinton ?considered the joint work at the U.N. Security Council due to North Korea?s nuclear test of May 18 and certain aspects of Middle East settlement?, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported. The conversation was held on the U.S. initiative. Last week, the Kremlin said it is saddened and worried by North Korea? s underground nuclear test in a region adjacent to Russia, confirmed by competent authorities. ?The actions of the Democratic People?s Republic of Korea cannot but be assessed as a direct violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718 that was adopted under Article 41, Section VII of the U.N. Charter and is binding on all U.N. member states without exception,? presidential press secretary Natalia Timakova said on May 25. ?These actions also deliver a blow to international efforts aimed at strengthening the global nuclear non-proliferation regime on the basis of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty,? she said. ?The present steps taken by the DPRK seriously destabilise the situation in Northeast Asia. Particularly disturbing the is the fact that North Korea?s nuclear programme is carried out in conjunction with the development of missile technologies,? Timakova said. ?As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a NPT depositary, Russia condemns such actions that rock the NPT regime,? she said; Kazinform cites ITAR-TASS. See www.itar-tass.com for full version