Tuesday, Jul 22, 2003
Russia watchful of N. Korean scene
By Vladimir Radyuhin
MOSCOW JULY 21. Russia is taking steps to protect itself against a nuclear conflict contingency on the Korean Peninsular.
The Deputy Foreign Minister, Alexander Losyukov, said today orders had been issued to test Russia's civil defence system in the Far East in view of the worsening standoff over North Korea's nuclear arms claims. The Interfax news agency quoted the Russian diplomat as saying during a visit to South Korea that Russian authorities had started preparing for the worst-case scenario in view of a credible danger of nuclear conflict on the Korean Peninsular, which would affect Russia's Primorye and Khabarovsk regions.
"This problem has been discussed at an inter-agency level and appropriate instructions have been issued," Mr. Losyukov said, adding that precautionary measures were being taken both in the Far East and throughout the country. He also said the situation had not yet reached the stage where a "defence effort'' was needed. Mr. Losyukov said China was also taking similar measures. In the absence of talks between North Korea and the United States, "the situation continues to deteriorate and is slowing sinking into a state of conflict which could get hot."
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