MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax-AVN) - The recent underground nuclear device test conducted by North Korea could prompt the U.S. to deploy a naval missile defense unit not far from Russian borders, in the view of a number of analysts.
"Following the explosion conducted by North Korea, the creation of a missile defense system is becoming especially relevant. The U.S. could deploy missile defense facilities near Russian borders. In particular, a naval missile defense unit could be set up," Vladimir Yevseyev of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of World Economy and International Relations said at a roundtable conference in Moscow on Tuesday.
The situation in North Korea could prompt Russia to take response measures, such as the deployment of S-400 Triumph air defense missile systems in the Primorye (Maritime) territory, Yevseyev said. Such systems are currently deployed in the Moscow and Leningrad regions, he said.
Georgy Toloraya, the director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Economics Institute, said at the same news conference that "the tests conducted by North Korea could have a negative effect on the geopolitical situation in the region for Russia and China. The deployment of an American missile defense system is one of the possible negative consequences," he said.
Toloraya said also that, following North Korea's actions, other countries of the region could think about developing their own nuclear weapons.