Moscow studies Pyongyang’s proposal to evacuate Russian Embassy staff

Moscow seriously studies Pyongyang’s proposal to evacuate the staff of the Russian Embassy from North Korea, the Foreign Ministry reported on Friday. “On April 5, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry proposed Russia to discuss the proposal to evacuate the staff of the Russian Embassy from the DPRK due to the aggravation of the situation on the Korean Peninsula. We’re studying this notification seriously due to all circumstances,” the ministry said. “We’re convinced that it is inadmissible to set off military actions on the Korean Peninsula. We consider the policy towards heightening military hysteria unacceptable,” the ministry said. The ministry said it maintained permanent contacts with China, the United States and the Republic of Korea Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: “The proposal has been set forth to all embassies in Pyongyang. Now we’re trying to clarify the situation.” “We asked several questions, which would be given to our North Korean neighbours under these circumstances. We maintain permanent contacts with the Chinese partners, as well as with United States, South Korea and the participants in the six-party talks,” the Russian minister said. “Moscow voices concern, just verbal so far, over the aggravation of the situation,” Lavrov stressed. He said Russia concerned with if this is North Korea’s proposal or decision to evacuate the embassies. “We’ve told this is the proposal. I reiterate that due to many factors, which arise in this context, now we’re trying to study the factors related to other participants in the six-sided talks,” Lavrov said.