North Korea's two closest allies, China and Russia, have put pressure on Pyongyang to step back from launching a missile, the South Korean Foreign minister has said.
Yun Byung-se told the South Korean parliament that there had been "close coordination" between Seoul, Beijing and Moscow on a diplomatic solution to the current tensions.
"Throughout close coordination with China and Russia, the Korean government has been continuing to make efforts to persuade North Korea to change its attitude," he said.
China, which is North Korea's last major ally, has warned twice in recent days that Pyongyang must dial back its rhetoric. Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign minister, told Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, that China would not tolerate "troublemaking at the doorstep".
Xi Jinping, the new Chinese president, said on Sunday that no country "should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gain".
On Wednesday, Chinese tours into North Korea were cancelled, cutting off another source of foreign currency and possibly hinting at China's displeasure over the North's behaviour.
Foreign tours were allowed to proceed and flights were running as normal from Beijing to Pyongyang, suggesting that it was not North Korea that was banning travel.
Mr Yun added that South Korean and American intelligence had confirmed that a medium range Musudan ballistic missile is now ready for launch on North Korea's east coast.
"The possibility of a missile launch by North Korea is very high," he said, adding that the United Nations Security Council would meet immediately if the missile is fired.
VID HERE: http://www.independent.ie/incoming/...o-step-back-from-missile-launch-29187829.html
Yun Byung-se told the South Korean parliament that there had been "close coordination" between Seoul, Beijing and Moscow on a diplomatic solution to the current tensions.
"Throughout close coordination with China and Russia, the Korean government has been continuing to make efforts to persuade North Korea to change its attitude," he said.
China, which is North Korea's last major ally, has warned twice in recent days that Pyongyang must dial back its rhetoric. Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign minister, told Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, that China would not tolerate "troublemaking at the doorstep".
Xi Jinping, the new Chinese president, said on Sunday that no country "should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gain".
On Wednesday, Chinese tours into North Korea were cancelled, cutting off another source of foreign currency and possibly hinting at China's displeasure over the North's behaviour.
Foreign tours were allowed to proceed and flights were running as normal from Beijing to Pyongyang, suggesting that it was not North Korea that was banning travel.
Mr Yun added that South Korean and American intelligence had confirmed that a medium range Musudan ballistic missile is now ready for launch on North Korea's east coast.
"The possibility of a missile launch by North Korea is very high," he said, adding that the United Nations Security Council would meet immediately if the missile is fired.
VID HERE: http://www.independent.ie/incoming/...o-step-back-from-missile-launch-29187829.html
