ST. PETERSBURG. Oct 16 (Interfax) - Russia condemns North Korea for developing its nuclear program and testing weapons, Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko said.
"The stance of Russia is well known: we strongly condemn North Korea for developing its nuclear-arms program and testing weapons, and, just like the whole international community, we urge it to strictly comply with relevant UN Security Council resolutions," Matviyenko told the South Korean parliament speaker in St. Petersburg on Monday.
Russia backed the latest resolution of the UN Security Council in relation to the latest North Korean missile test, she said.
Matviyenko said she would meet with the North Korean delegation on Monday and try to persuade its members to meet with their South Korean counterparts on the sideline of the Inter-Parliamentary Union's Assembly.
"Of course, everyone wants the two parliamentary delegations to set an example, sit down, exchange their views, and create some basis for more profound negotiations, which may take place on the parliamentary level in the future," Matviyenko said.
She was not sure that North Korea would agree to meet. "I have a slim chance of succeeding, but I will nonetheless try to convey our stance and urge them to have a meeting," Matviyenko said.