MOSCOW. Feb 12 (Interfax) - State Duma Defense Committee Deputy Chairman Franz Klintsevich (United Russia) has urged economic sanctions against North Korea to be imposed by the UN Security Council.
"I am confident that the UN Security Council will evaluate the latest nuclear test conducted by North Korea. Personally, I would support strict economic sanctions against the country which continues to obstruct international monitoring," Klintsevich told Interfax on Tuesday.
He emphasized that North Korea issued an early test notification to South Korea and Japan but did not do the same for Russia although the two states had a common border.
"That is a very serious factor but I am confident that our armed forces can intercept a North Korean missile in the case of an unsuccessful launch and nothing endangers our country," the deputy said.
The ongoing nuclear tests in North Korea "show that the UN Security Council should not only impose economic sanctions but also categorically demand access of international monitors," he said.
Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov will speak at the closed-door meeting of the State Duma Defense Committee on Wednesday, Klintsevich said.
"I think North Korea will be an item on the agenda," the parliamentarian presumed.